Tkachenko Pushes for a Monument to Mazepa in Kyiv Instead of Klitschko's Fountain.

Support for Erecting a Statue of Ivan Mazepa

According to Novyny.live: Timur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, has voiced his support for installing a monument to Hetman Ivan Mazepa on Taras Shevchenko Boulevard in the capital. He also criticized earlier municipal plans to build a fountain there, arguing that the city center should showcase Ukrainian history and national identity rather than generic decorative features.

Tkachenko emphasized that 'in the heart of Kyiv, there should stand Mazepa, not some banal Klitschko fountain.'

He further stated that, as a Kyiv resident, he fully endorses President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's decision to erect a monument to the hetman. 'Instead of a figure symbolizing the fight for Ukrainian statehood, Klitschko and the city administration offered residents just another fountain,' he remarked. Tkachenko believes that the capital should feature symbols of Ukrainian history and identity, not faceless decorative objects.

Context and Public Debate

This development comes after President Zelenskyy signed a decree to prepare for the millennium of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, which includes restoration and preservation of cultural heritage sites. However, the situation in Kyiv remains tense: the Darnytskyi district suffered damage from an overnight Russian missile strike.

The proposal for an Ivan Mazepa monument has sparked lively public discussion. Tkachenko stresses the importance of statues that reflect national identity, especially amid the current challenges facing Ukraine.

Erecting a monument to Ivan Mazepa represents a significant step in shaping Ukraine's national identity—a matter of particular relevance given today's circumstances. Monuments that symbolize the Ukrainian people's historical struggle for independence can become key elements of cultural policy, highlighting the connection between past and present. The debate also reflects a broader conversation about history's role in society and the importance of preserving cultural heritage during wartime.