Zelenskyy announces Mazepa monument to replace Lenin statue in central Kyiv

What happened

New Voice Ukraine reports that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced plans to erect a monument to Hetman Ivan Mazepa in central Kyiv, on the site where a statue of Vladimir Lenin once stood. He made the announcement during Constitution Day commemorations on June 28.

This move is part of Ukraine's ongoing efforts to redefine its national symbols and heritage, distancing itself from Soviet-era legacies. Hetman Mazepa holds historical significance in Ukrainian history as a leader who resisted Russian domination, making the choice of his monument particularly resonant.

The original Lenin statue, a Soviet symbol, was removed earlier in Ukraine’s decommunization campaign. Erecting a Mazepa monument on the same site signals a deliberate reshaping of public memory and urban space in Kyiv.

Known from the source

• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced during Constitution Day on June 28 that a monument to Hetman Ivan Mazepa will be erected in central Kyiv.
• The monument will be placed at the site where a Vladimir Lenin statue once stood.

What remains unclear

While the announcement came from Zelenskyy at a high-profile public event, the report does not detail timelines or the planned design and scale of the monument. Further information from official city or cultural authorities is needed to understand the full scope of the project.

What remains unclear: Official confirmation of monument plans from Kyiv municipal authorities or cultural ministries. Details on construction timelines, design, and approval status. Verification of Zelenskyy’s exact speech text for direct quotes. Assessment of political context risks around the monument’s announcement.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has treated the source material as confirmed within the supplied source context, while retaining attribution to the original publisher.

Original source: New Voice Ukraine. Open the source.