Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has signed two laws aimed at reinforcing the country’s national identity. The laws ban the use of Russian place names and make knowledge of Ukrainian language and history a requirement for citizenship. The moves, made on Friday, are the latest in Ukraine’s efforts to distance itself from a long history of Russian domination, which has become an increasingly emotional subject since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began last year.
Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Ukraine has been working to remove old Russian names from streets and public places. However, the process of “de-Russification” has picked up pace since the war began in February 2022. Countless streets across Ukraine have been renamed, and statues of Russian figures like Catherine the Great have been removed.
The new law signed by Mr. Zelensky on Friday prohibits the use of place names that “perpetuate, promote or symbolize the occupying state or its notable, memorable, historical and cultural places, cities,…
2023-04-22 05:37:26
Article from www.nytimes.com