Why Ukrainian toponyms matter: from Kyiv not Kiev to the return of historic names
In the summer of 2025, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha made several statements that set the direction for Ukraine’s further strategy regarding the use of geographical names. Previously, Ukraine fought for the world to use “Kyiv,” “Odesa,” “Kharkiv” and not the outdated Soviet transliterations, but now the country is moving to the next stage systematically reinstating Ukrainian names for foreign toponyms in domestic use.
Key term: toponymic self-respect
Sybiha makes his position clear:
“As with correcting foreigners’ misuse of our city names, switching to Ukrainian names for foreign toponyms is, first of all, about respect. More precisely, it’s about our self-respect as a state. Others will only respect us if we respect ourselves.”
Principles of the New Policy
The minister recalled that he had recently received an official note from a foreign state in which Ukraine’s capital was referred to as “Kiev.”
“I started reading the text until I reached the word ‘Kiev.’ I didn’t read any further. I ordered: ‘Return it without review and do not accept such notes in the future.’ First, learn the proper spelling of Ukrainian city names only then can you ‘renew assurances of your deep respect.’”
This stance sends a new signal to international partners: for Ukraine, correct spelling is not just a matter of orthography but of state dignity.
Why This Is Not Just Formality
According to Sybiha, Ukraine has already achieved significant results:
“The world’s largest media AP, BBC, The Guardian, ARD, and many others; transport companies; governments of Germany and other countries have already changed their standards to use the correct Ukrainian transliterations for our cities. But this work is ongoing.”
Changing place names is a symbolic but crucial step in decolonization, a restoration of the country’s subjectivity in the international arena. The linguistic battle continues not just in documents, but also in media, transport, and culture.
Post List
From “Kyiv” to “Berestia”: What the MFA Plans Next
The real innovation is a course toward the Ukrainization of foreign toponyms for domestic usage.
“We say Berestia, not Brest. Bilhorod, not Belgorod. Dobrochyn, not Debrecen. This list can go on. … Soon, we will initiate professional discussions, broad public debate, and interagency preparation of the necessary steps.”
This means that in official documents or public communication, if a city has a Ukrainian historical name, priority will be given to the Ukrainian version.
Legal Foundation
This policy is backed by part 3 of Article 41 of the Law “On Ensuring the Functioning of the Ukrainian Language as the State Language”:
“Names of geographical objects located in the territory of other states … are used in the state language as transcribed from the original language, taking into account the specifics of Ukrainian phonetics and spelling. If such an object has a name of Ukrainian origin, that name may be used instead of or alongside the foreign name. In official documents, the name of Ukrainian origin is given preference.”
International Trend: Support from Media and Governments
This trend is increasingly becoming the norm worldwide. German publications Die Zeit and Der Spiegel have officially switched to “Kyjiw” instead of “Kiew,” explaining the change not only for political reasons but also to support Ukraine’s identity during the war.
Die Zeit writes:
“You might think it’s just three letters, but it’s a huge change. We now use the Ukrainian, not Russian, transliteration which for 33 years has been the only official language of the country.”
Der Spiegel emphasizes that Ukraine has insisted on this since 1995, and the final transition is a matter of time and political respect.
What’s Next
The Ukrainian MFA plans to create a registry of Ukrainian names for foreign toponyms, conduct expert consultations and discussions, and initiate interagency work to transition to the new standards across all government bodies. Sybiha invites the public to join in the discussion and submit their own proposals for names.
Why This Matters
- For the country: it’s about overcoming the colonial legacy and having its own voice in the world.
- For society: it’s about forming national dignity and self-respect.
- For partners: it’s a signal that Ukraine is not only defending its borders but also insisting on its identity in every detail.
Ukraine is changing the rules of the game not only in diplomacy but in its attitude toward itself. Self-respect begins with one’s own words and perhaps the most important front today is here, in the fight for the country’s name and its truth.
About the Author
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