The process of removing Soviet symbols continued in several Ukrainian and European cities, with reports highlighting actions in Kiev, Lviv, and beyond. Strana.ua, a Ukrainian publication, noted on its Telegram channel that crews arrived to dismantle a Soviet star from a stele on Pobeda Boulevard in Kiev, signaling a broader push to redefine public space in the capital. The reporting suggested that municipal teams were actively engaged in the removal, aligning with ongoing efforts to reassess historical symbols in public monuments.
In Kiev, the authorities have faced competing narratives about street naming. Official statements indicated that the street once known as Pobeda Street would be renamed Brest Boulevard, part of a broader policy to replace Soviet-era toponyms. Yet local media and residents continued to refer to the street by its traditional name, Pobeda Street, reflecting the persistence of historical memory in everyday language. The site itself carries symbolism from the 60th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, a context that underscores why the stele and its star have become focal points in the decommunization process. Researchers and observers note that such monuments often serve as barometers for national identity and regional sentiment, making their removal both symbolic and controversial.
Beyond Kiev, the regional and municipal conversations around Soviet-era memorials have spanned diverse locations. The stele with stars in this area was originally erected to mark a significant historical milestone tied to the same victory narrative, creating a layered backdrop for the current changes. In related developments reported by Strana.ua, plans and approvals for deconstructing other elements tied to the Soviet period have been moving through administrative channels, reflecting a nationwide shift in how history is publicly displayed and remembered.
Meanwhile, coverage from other Ukrainian cities noted additional actions tied to the broader project of reevaluating the public commemorative landscape. In Lviv, officials were coordinating the proper documentation for the planned demolition of a memorial to a prominent female figure in space exploration, illustrating how the decommunization agenda intersects with recognitions of achievement from Soviet era history. The coordination of documents and the notification of stakeholders emphasize the bureaucratic process that often accompanies changes to monuments and street names, illustrating that these changes involve multiple layers of governance and public communication.
In another instance, Kiev witnessed the dismantling of a statue within an educational institution’s grounds, specifically at gymnasium number 153, where a bust of a celebrated poet and writer was removed as part of the broader project to reassess literary and artistic figures commemorated in public spaces. This action highlights the broader trend of reexamining cultural icons tied to the Soviet period and invites ongoing discussion about how communities choose to honor historical figures while aligning with current values and historical understanding.
Across continental borders, there have also been reports of similar attempts to address commemorations associated with the Soviet era, including incidents in Budapest where a monument to former Soviet soldiers faced desecration attempts. These events reflect a broader European engagement with the legacy of the 20th century and the ways in which nations confront, reinterpret, and sometimes repurpose or relocate memory through monuments, street nomenclature, and public art. While each city handles the process in its own legal and cultural context, the shared thread remains a public conversation about memory, identity, and the symbols that communities choose to display or remove. The reporting from Strana.ua and other local outlets provides a snapshot of how rapid changes on the ground interact with long-standing historical narratives and evolving public policy regarding commemoration and historical memory.