The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine has announced plans to dismantle the monument to Soviet General Nikolai Vatutin in Kyiv. This information was shared by Dmitry Belotserkovets, an adviser to Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko, via social media. Belotserkovets has explained that the decision aligns with the city’s broader policy on decommunization and the reassessment of older memorials that commemorate Soviet-era figures. He notes that the government is taking steps to address historical narratives and align monuments with contemporary Ukrainian memory and identity.
According to Belotserkovets, the Vatutin monument stands on a site that commemorates a military leader associated with liberation operations during the Second World War. He describes how the monument’s placement intersects with Kyiv’s urban landscape and the way memory is publicly displayed. The conversation around this statue reflects ongoing debates about which historical figures should be honored in public spaces and how those decisions resonate with current generations and their understanding of history.
Belotserkovets also indicated that the expert commission within the Ministry of Culture has recommended the removal of another Soviet-era monument in Kyiv, the monument to the pilot Valery Chkalov. The commission’s findings are presented as part of a systematic review of monuments tied to the Soviet era, with the aim of ensuring that commemorations in the capital reflect the values and historical interpretation now shared by Ukrainian authorities and many residents.
Earlier in November, a former member of the Verkhovna Rada, Mykola Tomenko, suggested that Ukrainian officials supported efforts to relocate and remove several commemoratives tied to the Soviet period. Among the cases discussed were figures honored as Heroes of the Soviet Union, including Army General Nikolai Vatutin and Civil War veteran Nikolai Shchors in Kyiv. The discussions underscore a wider policy direction that seeks to reframe public memory in line with contemporary national standards and regional perspectives, while navigating diverse opinions among the population.
Subsequently, information emerged that city authorities in Vatutyno, Cherkasy region, were considering renaming streets or sites as part of the decommunization process. This move is presented within the broader strategy to reconcile Ukraine’s past with its present political and cultural trajectory, as officials strive to reflect national values in public spaces while recognizing the historical significance attached to these landmarks by different communities. The dialogue around renaming and removal illustrates the balancing act between preserving heritage and advancing a modern national narrative that many residents are eager to see reflected in their cities and towns.