Residents of Kyiv have initiated a proposal to rename the metro station ‘Akademmistetko’ to ‘Vasyl Stus’ and have already registered a corresponding electronic petition on the city council’s website.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Justification for the Renaming
The authors of the petition emphasize the historical and symbolic significance of such a change. Vasyl Stus, a prominent Ukrainian poet and a symbol of resistance against Soviet totalitarianism, lived on Chornobyl Street during the 1970s and 80s, which is located in close proximity to the current ‘Akademmistetko’ metro station. Thus, the initiators highlight that the new name of the station will reflect the real connection of the area to the poet’s life, rather than becoming an artificial toponym.
Significance for the Cultural Identity of the Capital
The petition notes that Vasyl Stus is one of the key figures in 20th-century Ukrainian literature, and his name is associated with the struggle for national dignity and the right to be Ukrainian. Honoring Stus’s memory by renaming the metro station in his honor, according to the city’s residents, is an important step towards strengthening Kyiv’s Ukrainian identity and overcoming the consequences of Soviet toponymic policy.
Moreover, the city’s residents point out that Stus is one of the most important Ukrainian poets of the 20th century, a symbol of resistance against Soviet totalitarianism, a man who died in a camp for the right to be Ukrainian. The presence of a place in the capital bearing his name provides him with a worthy tribute that was long hindered by Soviet authorities.
According to the authors of the petition, the name ‘Vasyl Stus,’ similar to the already existing station ‘Taras Shevchenko,’ holds cultural significance and is immediately recognizable as part of the Ukrainian context of the capital. At the same time, the current name ‘Akademmistetko’ is a typical Soviet toponym, lacking uniqueness and historical meaning for Kyiv.