Kyiv Removes Bulgakov Monument: The Push to Decolonize Ukraine’s Cultural Landscape.

Monument to Mikhail Bulgakov Dismantled in Kyiv

According to Espreso.tv: Work is underway in Kyiv to remove a monument to Mikhail Bulgakov, sparking intense debate over the writer’s place in Ukrainian history and culture. The statue stood near the Literary and Memorial Museum of Mikhail Bulgakov. In May 2023, the Museum of the History of Kyiv updated a commemorative plaque dedicated to the 'distinguished Kyivan, Mikhail Bulgakov.'

Why This Debate Matters Now

On July 12, 2025, the project 'Decolonization.Ukraine' addressed a formal request to the newly appointed head of the Institute of National Memory, Oleksandr Alfiorov, underscoring the public salience of the issue. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko has also joined the conversation surrounding this controversy.

Some argue that publishing Bulgakov’s books—the author is widely regarded as a Ukrainophobe—could help Ukrainians better understand their own history in the context of relations with Russians, according to Vladyslav Kyrychenko. However, the Institute of National Memory contends that using Bulgakov’s name in place names and erecting monuments in his honor perpetuates Russian imperial policy.

'The dismantling of the monument has become a symbol of a broader process of reevaluating cultural heritage in Ukraine.' — Vladyslav Kyrychenko

For its part, the Bulgakov Museum rejects these accusations, calling the claims about the writer baseless fabrications. The removal of the monument now stands as an emblem of a larger movement to rethink cultural heritage across Ukraine.

This act of dismantling Bulgakov’s statue in Kyiv reflects a shift in how the public perceives historical figures and their legacies amid today’s political and social challenges. It also signals an intensification of discussions around decolonizing Ukrainian culture and restoring national identity. How events unfold in this arena could significantly shape cultural policy in Ukraine and its relationship with the past—particularly with regard to the Russian cultural sphere.