Luhansk OVA to Rename Three Districts of the Occupied City: Proposals Accepted.

According to ТСН: The Luhansk Regional State Administration announced the acceptance of proposals for renaming three districts in the temporarily occupied regional center: Artemivskyi, Zhovtnevy, and Leninskyi. These names are associated with the symbolism of the communist totalitarian regime and Russian imperial politics, according to the conclusions of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory.

“Proposals for new names of the districts in the city of Luhansk with appropriate justifications will be accepted until January 20, 2026, at the email address: [email protected],” the OVA stated.

The Regional Administration emphasized that the preparation of proposals must take into account the overall procedure for renaming districts in cities, as well as the legal requirements regarding the names of objects named after individuals, historical events, or anniversaries.

Renaming Process

According to the OVA, the renaming process is ongoing in accordance with the Law of Ukraine “On Condemnation and Prohibition of Propaganda of Russian Imperial Politics in Ukraine and Decolonization of Toponymy.” Despite the temporary occupation of the city, Ukraine continues to order the administrative-territorial structure in accordance with current legislation.

Other Initiatives in Ukraine

It is also known that in Odesa a petition has been registered for the dismantling of the bust of Pushkin on Primorsky Boulevard with a proposal to install a monument to former US President Donald Trump in its place.

Additionally, the Kyiv City Council made a decision for the major renovation of the memorial sign “Zero Kilometer,” located at Independence Square. The main change will be the removal of the names of Russian cities from the monument and replacing them with the names of Ukrainian cities.

Changes in the names of the districts of Luhansk are an important step in the long-term policy of decolonization and rethinking national memory in Ukraine. This can become not only a symbol of the revival of Ukrainian identity but also emphasize the state’s attention to the needs of local communities. The renaming process also reflects new social sentiments that are forming in the face of modern challenges.