Change of Toponyms as Part of the Urban Space Transformation in Kharkiv (2015–2023)

Abstract

The paper explores the toponymic renaming in Kharkiv from 2015 to 2023 as one of the key aspects of urban space transformation within the context of decommunization and decolonization. The ideological urges — as well as other sociopolitical factors — that caused the changes are analyzed. The author shows how those who introduced the new names tried to reshape the city’s historical and cultural identity. Particular attention is paid to the legality of this process. The so-called Decommunization Law was crucial as a starting point fo the purge of toponyms inherited from the communist regime. Several entities were charged with that task. It was local authorities who primarily make such decisions (in Kharkiv — the city council). In the preparation of those decisions, the toponymic commission — despite its advisory role — is rather important as it drafts recommendations and gives its opinion. The aforementioned law and city council resolutions allow the author to identify three main stages of renaming. The first stage (2015–2016) comprises the most extensive changes in Kharkiv’s urban space, with hundreds of toponyms supplanted. That required historical reflection and active public involvement. The second stage (2016– 2022) was less consistent. Most of the change had been implemented, so the work focused on bringing more accuracy to the process, assigning names to new objects, and ferreting out remnants of the Soviet legacy. The third stage (2022–2023), triggered by Russia’s invasion in Ukraine, prompted a new wave of decolonization campaign. A large number of toponyms related to Russian culture and history were removed. In conclusion the author reflects on the multifaceted nature of renaming: toponyms can be seen as not only spatial reference points but also carriers of ideological and cultural impurity — and a hotbed of public debate.