On the territory of the National Complex "ExpoCenter of Ukraine" (VDNH) in Kyiv, Soviet symbolism can still be seen today: the hammer and sickle, as well as five-pointed stars. Contrary to many expectations, these elements are not planned for demolition. Instead of radical destruction, the complex administration has chosen the path of civilized reinterpretation of architectural heritage.

Legal Restrictions and Monument Status

The reason for preserving the symbols lies in the legal status of the buildings. As reported by the VDNH administration, 19 objects of the complex have the status of architectural monuments of national significance. This status is enshrined in a resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, which imposes strict restrictions on any changes to facades and the demolition of elements that are part of the historical appearance of the buildings.

Yevhen Mushkin, General Director of NC "ExpoCenter of Ukraine", noted that the need to reinterpret problematic heritage in Ukraine has intensified in recent years. The topic of the Soviet past has become particularly relevant after the start of Russia's large-scale invasion, which required the development of a correct strategy for working with cultural heritage.

The "(NOT)Exhibition" Project and the Role of Experts

To address this task, a special working group was created in 2025. It included well-known historians, architects, and cultural scholars, among them Anton Drobovych, Oksana Dovgopolova, and architect Alexey Bykov. The result of their work was the public presentation of the research project "(NOT)Exhibition", which took place in April 2026.

Currently, the possibility of creating a full-fledged educational project based on the VDNH pavilions is being considered. Its main goal is not just to preserve the buildings, but to give them a new context through work with the heritage of the communist totalitarian regime. The project plans to integrate international experience in working with imperial heritage, and all steps will be coordinated with state bodies responsible for preserving national memory.

Legal Aspect: What Is Prohibited and What Is Not

It is important to understand the difference in the legal status of various symbols remaining on the territory of the complex:

  • Hammer and Sickle: This is an unequivocal symbol of the communist totalitarian regime. Its use or public display falls directly under the ban according to the law on the condemnation of communist and national-socialist regimes.
  • Five-pointed star: This symbol is polysemous. It was used not only in the USSR but also in the heraldry of many states, armies, and even in religious symbolism. Therefore, the star is not always considered exclusively a communist symbol and is not subject to an automatic ban if it is not part of a composition directly promoting a totalitarian regime.

The laws of the "decommunization package", adopted by the Verkhovna Rada back in 2015, banned the use of symbols of the USSR and the Ukrainian SSR, except in cases where they are part of documents, museum exhibits, or architectural monuments. Since July 2023, Ukraine has also been operating a law on decolonization aimed at countering Russian imperial propaganda.