The Kharkiv Regional Council voted to rename the Kharkiv Academic russian Drama Theater named after Alexander Pushkin. The poet’s name and the word “russian” were removed from the name.

“On March 1, the theater staff decided to remove the word “russian” from the name of the theater. Now the institution will be called Kharkiv Academic Drama Theater. Without light, without peace, without tranquility, but all this is temporary. The main thing is that without russia,” said Minister of Culture and Information Policy Oleksandr Tkachenko.

Head of Kharkiv Regional State Administration Oleh Syniehubov noted that russians have been razing Kharkiv to the ground for almost a year, destroying cultural heritage and firing missiles at buildings named after their writers and personalities.

“Only in March, this theater came under enemy fire three times: at that time the russians damaged premises of an art workshop, the blast wave hit windows and doors. A nation of vandals that does not respect the past and does not deserve the future,” the head of Kharkiv Regional State Administration added.