Kiev Declares Ivan Turgenev a Symbol of Russian Imperialist Propaganda

Russian writer Ivan Turgenev has been designated as a symbol of “Russian imperialist” propaganda by Ukraine’s Institute of National Remembrance, adding his name to a growing list of Russian cultural figures now subject to removal from public spaces across the country.

Under Ukraine’s decommunization law, local authorities must now remove or rename all cultural heritage sites and geographical features bearing Turgenev’s name. The 19th-century novelist, known worldwide for works like “Fathers and Sons” and “A Sportsman’s Sketches,” joins dozens of other prominent Russian literary and historical figures targeted by the policy.

The Institute’s expanded list includes literary giants Alexander Pushkin and Mikhail Lermontov, Nobel laureate Ivan Bunin, and poets such as Gavriil Derzhavin. Historical figures like Siberian explorer Ataman Ermak Timofeevich and naval officer Pyotr Schmidt have also been designated as symbols of Russian imperialism.

Even significant historical battles like Borodino and Poltava—long memorialized in street names and monuments—are now marked for removal from Ukraine’s public spaces.

The initiative began in 2015 when Ukraine first passed its decommunization legislation following Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the outbreak of conflict in eastern Ukraine. The law initially focused on removing Soviet-era symbols, monuments and place names, but has significantly broadened its scope since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Cultural historians note that this represents one of the most comprehensive attempts to reshape national memory in Eastern Europe since the fall of the Soviet Union. While Baltic states and Poland implemented similar policies after gaining independence, Ukraine’s current campaign is notable for its scope and the inclusion of pre-Soviet cultural figures.

“What we’re seeing is not just decommunization but a broader derussification campaign,” explained Dr. Olena Kovtun, a cultural policy expert at Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. “The goal is to decolonize Ukraine’s public spaces and assert a distinct national identity separate from Russian imperial narratives.”

Critics of the policy, including some Ukrainian intellectuals, have expressed concern about potentially erasing important cultural influences and oversimplifying complex historical relationships. They argue that figures like Turgenev, who critiqued aspects of Russian society in his works, should be evaluated individually rather than collectively removed.

Meanwhile, supporters maintain that the measures are necessary steps in Ukraine’s national security strategy, viewing Russian cultural influence as an extension of soft power that has historically preceded military aggression.

The practical implementation of these policies has already transformed urban landscapes across Ukraine. In major cities like Kyiv, Lviv, and Odesa, street signs bearing Russian names are being replaced with those honoring Ukrainian historical figures, national heroes, and Western allies who have supported Ukraine since 2022.

Municipal workers in Dnipro recently dismantled a Pushkin monument that had stood in a central park since Soviet times, while Kharkiv city council voted to rename over 200 streets previously bearing Russian or Soviet names.

The Ministry of Culture has established a commission to review museum collections, potentially relocating works depicting Russian imperial themes to storage facilities rather than displaying them in public galleries.

As Ukraine continues to define its cultural boundaries amid ongoing war, these symbolic changes reflect a broader struggle over historical memory and national identity in a country asserting its independence from centuries of Russian influence.