Renaming Squares in Kyiv: New Names and Meaning for Urban Space
In December, the Kyiv City Council made a number of decisions that might seem formalities at first glance. It’s about naming and renaming squares green spaces that until now were either nameless or carried Soviet or conventional designations. In reality, this is much more than new signboards.
The names of parks and squares shape the city’s identity, anchoring in space the people, symbols, and events that matter for Kyiv and for the country as a whole. Each such change is both an act of memory and a message to the next generations about who we recognize as our beacons.
One of Kyiv’s key public spaces, Kontraktova Square, now has two squares with a vivid identity.
- The square near the monument to Petro Sahaidachnyi is now officially named after the prominent hetman. The figure of Petro Sahaidachnyi is closely associated with Kyiv’s Cossack past and townspeople, and now his name is formally returned to the city’s fabric.
- The green area opposite the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy is named after Hryhorii Skovoroda. This is not just a formality: the philosopher’s and teacher’s name fits into the university context, gaining its own “address” next to students, lecturers, and youth.
“For Podil residents, it means one simple thing: familiar places now have identity and a recognizable marker in the urban space.”
These decisions highlight the continuity of past and present everyday life intersects with philosophy, Cossack history with modern Kyiv.
Shevchenkivskyi District: Squares Named After Real People and Symbols
In the Shevchenkivskyi district, three green areas received new, meaningful names:
- Hero Artem Sokhan Square (formerly “Tankmen’s Glory”) is now named after a Kyiv resident and serviceman who died in the Russo-Ukrainian war. This is not just a change of signboard:
“The renaming became a way to honor a specific person a Kyivan who gave his life for Ukraine.” - Serhii Vinogradskyi Square previously a nameless green zone at the corner of Bohdan Khmelnytsky and Oles Honchar streets. Serhii Vinogradskyi was a prominent microbiologist, the founder of soil microbiology.
“This figure is yet another reminder to Kyivans: outstanding scientists were born and worked in our city, though they have not always been properly honored.” - Imam Shamil Square the area between Herzen and Ovrutska streets has been named in honor of the leader of the national liberation struggle of the peoples of the North Caucasus.
“This is a powerful geopolitical symbol: Kyiv consistently reflects support for peoples who have fought for freedom.”
What New Names Give the City: More Than Landmarks
Renaming squares changes not only the map:
- The city gets clear reference points: it’s easier to arrange meetings, plan routes, conduct tours.
- Historical memory is restored: each name recalls a specific person or idea, building a deeper sense of place.
- Communities are involved: initiatives often come from below from residents, organizations, and veteran communities.
“New square names are not about changing signboards. They are about meaning.”
Kyiv once again shows that naming is a joint effort, not a mere formality. From the Cossack era and scientific achievements to today’s war and solidarity with other nations all this is inscribed in the capital’s toponymy.
In recent years, Kyiv has undergone a systematic process of rethinking names.
“On the city’s map, names appear that reflect Ukrainian history and the present. Squares are small but highly visible points. This is where residents walk daily to work or with their children.”
Memory of the city is built into the details: through familiar squares, whose names now speak about what matters most.
In Brief: Where to Find the New Names
Kontraktova Square:
- Petro Sahaidachnyi Square
- Hryhorii Skovoroda Square
Shevchenkivskyi District:
- Hero Artem Sokhan Square (formerly “Tankmen’s Glory”)
- Serhii Vinogradskyi Square (Khmelnytskyi / Honchar)
- Imam Shamil Square (Herzen / Ovrutska)
The capital’s green areas are not just grass and trees. They are spaces of memory, solidarity, and mutual respect. Each new name is a sign that Kyiv pays close attention to both its past and its future.
This is a consistent policy aimed at shaping an urban environment where “how to get there” matters less than “why this name is here.” New names in urban space are markers of identity and evidence that Kyiv remembers, honors, and tells its own story.
About the Author
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