In the center of Kyiv, at the site where one of the main symbols of the Soviet era fell more than a decade ago, a new historical landmark may soon appear. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has proposed installing a monument to Hetman Ivan Mazepa on Taras Shevchenko Boulevard.
Historical justice in the heart of Kyiv
The initiative was announced during the ceremonial unveiling of a bust of Ivan Mazepa on the territory of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Preserve. The head of state emphasized that returning the Hetman's name to public space is not merely a tribute, but a correction of long-standing historical injustice.
"Today we are correcting another historical injustice. Now, here in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, the bust of the great Ukrainian and patron of the Lavra — Ivan Mazepa — will rightfully stand," Zelenskyy stated.
In his address, the President recalled that it was with Mazepa's support that the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra experienced a period of flourishing. The Hetman was described as an outstanding statesman, philanthropist, and leader of the Cossack state, whose contribution to the country's history deserves special attention.
A symbolic location for the monument
According to Zelenskyy, the scale of Ivan Mazepa's personality requires not just a bust, but a full-fledged monument in the capital. The President also pointed to an existing symbolic location for the installation of the monument.
"I believe the ideal place for him already exists. It has existed since December 2013 on Shevchenko Boulevard. I am sure that where Lenin fell, Mazepa will stand firmly," the head of state concluded.
The reference is to Shevchenko Boulevard, where in December 2013, during the Revolution of Dignity, activists toppled the monument to Vladimir Lenin. Since then, the pedestal has remained empty, and the question of what should appear in its place has sparked long-standing public debate.
Alternative plans and public reaction
The issue of improving the square at Bessarabka has not been static. This year, the Kyiv City State Administration (Kyiv City Council) presented a project to create a barrier-free public space with a large fountain. However, this idea sparked lively discussion among Kyiv residents, many of whom believed the site required a more monumental solution.
Zelenskyy's proposal to replace a symbol of the Soviet era with the figure of a Ukrainian Hetman fits into the context of the search for national identity and the rethinking of the capital's urban environment.