The new Ukrainian name of Sevastopol may first be “Object No. 6”, and then – Akhtiar. This was stated in his social networks by the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) Oleksiy Danilov.
Renamed to “object number 6”. Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada will then decide on the city’s new name. Maybe Akhtiar, ”she wrote.
The Ukrainian official also expressed the view that the renaming of Sevastopol would allow “to break historical relations with the city of Russian military glory.”
Sevastopol was founded in 1783 on Akhtiyar Bay, named after the Tatar village of Akhtiyar. Translated from Greek, Sevastopol means “holy city”. During the reign of Paul I, its name was changed again to Akhtiyar, but in 1826, during the reign of Nicholas I, the old name was returned to the city by a Senate decree.
The day before, the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Danilov published the program “12 steps to liberate Crimea from occupation”. The document includes the renaming of Sevastopol, as well as the complete dismantling of the Crimean bridge, the evacuation of Russians from Crimea, who came to the peninsula after 2014. In addition, the Ukrainian authorities want to demolish the monument to the sunken ships and erect a monument with an anti-Russian slogan.
The Sinking Ships Monument was erected in Sevastopol in 1905 by sculptor Amandus Adamson and architect Valentin Feldman. It is dedicated to the First Defense of Sevastopol during the Crimean War and is a landmark of the city. Not only is it recognized as an object of the cultural heritage of the peoples of Russia, but also Ukraine is recognized as a monument of cultural heritage of national significance.
Danilov explained that the NSDC apparatus has already dealt with these problems by “developing a detailed program of action.”
Danilov’s statements were interpreted by Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Razvozzhaev and State Duma deputy Dmitry Belik.
“Danilov decided to contribute to the general howls of the Ukrainian Nazis, who had long dreamed of this. <…> “Object No. 6” apparently the social status of Danilov himself – whenever possible and in front of whom it is necessary, “Belik said.
The governor of Sevastopol also urged not to take the statements from Kiev seriously.
“The news from Ukrainian politicians is more like the medical records in ‘ward six’,” he said.
The governor pointed out that the statements of “sick people” should not be taken seriously. “They need to be treated, that’s what our army is doing now,” Razvozzhaev summed up.
“Anti-occupation dictionary”
In 2021, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) issued a statement on the creation of a special “anti-occupation dictionary” to combat the “disruptive information influence, manipulation of public opinion” by Russian special services.
The NSDC Dictionary is recommended for use by all Ukrainian authorities, media and public organizations.
For example, the Ukrainian authorities propose to abandon the use of the term “Great Patriotic War”, replacing it with the Second World War or the “Soviet-German War”.
In addition to the item related to the Great Patriotic War, the dictionary has 63 more unwanted expressions. The document contains recommendations that it is better to speak and write “in Ukraine”, and not “in”.
In 2014, the entry of Crimea into Russia was called “temporary occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea (by Russia)”, “Russian occupation of Crimea” and “Russian capture of Crimea” and the military conflict in Donbass is recommended. – “Russian armed offensive against Ukraine”, “Russian-Ukrainian war.
In addition, the Ukrainian authorities demand that Abkhazia be called the “Russian-occupied Georgian region”, and the Republic of South Ossetia – the “Russian-occupied territory of the Tskhinvali region of Georgia.”
Moscow or Russia?
On March 11, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky instructed Prime Minister Denisa Shmygal to resolve the issue of fixing the name “Muscovy” instead of “Russia” in the Ukrainian language.
The authors of the petition, published on 23 November and supported by more than 25,000 signatories, also want the terms “Russia” and “Russian Federation” to be changed to “Moscow” and “Moscow Federation”.
“The issue raised in the petition requires careful consideration, taking into account both its historical and cultural context and its possible international legal implications. In view of the foregoing, I appealed to the Prime Minister of Ukraine for his comprehensive study, ”Zelensky replied to this idea. He added that scientists should be involved in the studies.