Derussification of the Public Space in Ukraine as Conditioned by the Full-Scale Russian-Ukrainian War

The aim of the paper is to analyse the derussification processes of public space in Ukraine as conditioned by the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war. The methodology of the research is based on the core principles of historical knowledge considering general scientific and special historical methods, an interdisciplinary approach, sociological and cultural tools. The scientific novelty is conditioned by the fact that this is the first comprehensive study which presents derussification processes of the public space in Ukraine during the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war. As a result, the author comes to the conclusion that the full-scale Russian military invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022 led to the systemic derussification of public space from imperial inheritance. Such state measures, particularly the relevant politics of memory, were aimed at restoring the historical memory of the Ukrainian people. Derussification involved changing toponyms and dismantling monuments related to the colonial and imperial past. In addition, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine also adopted a special law on March 21, 2023 as an addendum to the decommunisation laws. The Expert Council on Overcoming the Consequences of Russification and Totalitarianism was established under the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine. As a result of these measures, derussification as well as decommunisation of toponymic objects and monuments, was basically completed in Ukraine at the beginning of 2024. At the same time some landmarks, in particular of monumental art, which had Russian or Soviet components but were recognised as art works, were not subjected to derussification.