12 Kharkiv Metro Stations Renamed: Which Names Disappeared After February 24.

Kharkiv Metro Stations Renamed

According to Novyny.live: During the war, Kharkiv renamed 12 metro stations, partly to remove Soviet-era names. Important changes occurred both before and after the conflict began. This renaming is part of a broader effort across Ukraine to reassess historical legacy and move away from colonial influences.

Stations That Were Renamed

Stations renamed before the war in Ukraine include:

• In December 2015, the station 'Radianska' became 'Maidan Konstytutsii'.
• On May 18, 2016, five stations received new names:
  • 'Marshal Zhukov' turned into 'Palace of Sports'
  • 'Uprising Square' became 'Defenders of Ukraine'
  • 'Proletarska' was changed to 'Industrialna'
  • 'Soviet Army' was renamed 'Armiiska'
  • 'Metrobudivnykiv imeni Vashchenko' became 'Metrobudivnykiv'

These steps were key in restoring national identity.

After the war began, on August 12, 2020, the station 'Moskovskyi Prospekt' was renamed 'Turboatom'. Further changes came on April 29, 2024, by order of Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov, when two stations were renamed: 'Pushkinska' became 'Yaroslava Mudroho' and 'Pivdennyi Vokzal' became 'Vokzalna'. On July 27, 2024, three more stations got new names: 'Prospekt Haharina' became 'Levada', 'Heroiv Pratsi' became 'Saltivska', and 'Zavod imeni Malysheva' became 'Zavodska'. In total, 12 metro stations in Kharkiv have been renamed since the war started.

These changes reflect local authorities' drive to adapt transport infrastructure to new societal realities and preserve historical memory aligned with modern values.

The decolonization and renaming of Kharkiv metro stations is part of a wider cultural and historical reevaluation in Ukraine, intensified by the war. Changing names symbolizes a rejection of Soviet heritage and the formation of a new, independent identity.

It also shows growing public awareness of historical contexts and the significance of names used in everyday life.