- President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed placing a monument to Ivan Mazepa, a Cossack military leader, on the former Lenin pedestal in Kyiv.
- Kyiv City Council voted to remove a monument to Mikhail Bulgakov, which had stood since 2007.
- After gaining independence in 1991, Ukraine removed many Soviet-era monuments and renamed streets as part of a process of decommunization.
- During the 2013-14 Maidan revolution, crowds toppled the Lenin statue in Kyiv, which has since left the pedestal empty.
- Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the 2022 invasion have accelerated the removal of Soviet-era monuments as Ukrainians question their identity.
Kyiv's proposal to replace a Lenin statue with a monument to Ivan Mazepa reflects Ukraine's ongoing struggle for identity amid Russian aggression.1
President Volodymyr Zelensky highlighted Mazepa's role as a Cossack leader who fought for independence, stating, "where Lenin fell, Mazepa will stand firm."
The push for decommunization has intensified since Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the full-scale invasion in 2022, prompting a reevaluation of national symbols.36
Nataliya Kryvda, a cultural history professor, noted that Ukraine is undergoing an unfinished process of decolonization, emphasizing the need for memorials to reflect national identity.
She described Mazepa as a "contradictory personality" rather than an "ideal hero," acknowledging his complex relationship with Russia.
Zelensky pointed out that Russia has historically vilified Mazepa, aiming to distort Ukrainian history, stating, "We are reclaiming our own voices and names."
The debate over the proposed monument underscores a broader cultural shift as Ukrainians confront their past and assert their identity in the face of ongoing conflict.
As the city council continues to remove Soviet-era monuments, the empty pedestal at Taras Shevchenko Boulevard symbolizes a pivotal moment in Ukraine's quest for self-definition.
“President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed placing the Mazepa monument on Kyiv's vacant pedestal in June, saying 'where Lenin fell, Mazepa will stand firm.' The plinth has been empty since demonstrators toppled the Lenin statue during the 2013-14 Maidan revolution, and Kyiv City Council voted to remove a monument to Mikhail Bulgakov.”
