In recent years, Ukrainians have become increasingly vocal in their opposition to Russian influence in their country. This has been especially evident in the ongoing drive against the veneration of Russian poet Alexander Pushkin, which many Ukrainians believe is an attempt to glorify the country’s imperial past.
The campaign against Pushkin began in 2018, when Ukrainian authorities removed a statue of the poet from the city of Kyiv. This was followed by the renaming of a street in the city of Kharkiv, which had formerly been named after Pushkin. In addition, a number of other cities and towns across Ukraine have removed statues of Pushkin and changed the names of streets and public squares associated with him.
The campaign against Pushkin has been particularly strong in the city of Lviv, which has become a symbol of Ukrainian resistance to Russian influence. In Lviv, authorities have removed a number of monuments to Pushkin, including a bust of the poet that had been in place since the Soviet era. In addition, the city has also renamed a number of streets and public squares that had been associated with Pushkin.
The push to remove Pushkin from Ukraine is part of a larger effort to counter the influence of Russian culture in the country. This includes the promotion of Ukrainian culture and language, as well as the removal of monuments and symbols associated with the Soviet era.
The campaign against Pushkin has been met with mixed reactions from Ukrainians. While some have welcomed the move as a sign of progress towards a more independent Ukraine, others have criticized it as an attempt to erase the country’s history and culture.
Regardless of the opinion of Ukrainians, it is clear that the push to remove Pushkin from Ukraine is part of a larger effort to counter the influence of Russian culture in the country. This is an important step in the process of building a more independent and unified Ukraine, free from foreign interference.
