Ministry of Culture Updates Rules for Granting Historical Status to Settlements

The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine has officially announced the revision of regulations concerning the process of granting historical status to various settlements across the country. These updates, as stated by the ministry, are designed to simplify the procedure, making it more transparent and straightforward for local communities.

Deputy Minister of Culture Ivan Verbytsky emphasized that, "We have updated the rules under which settlements can obtain historical status. Now, communities have a clear list of criteria and an understandable procedure—from submitting documents to the decision-making process." This initiative reflects the Ministry's intention to ease the process for settlements seeking historical recognition, which in turn will promote the preservation of cultural heritage.

The implemented changes outline specific conditions and procedures for including settlements in the List of Historical Settlements of Ukraine. Notably, a comprehensive list of criteria has been established, detailing the requirements a settlement must meet to achieve historical status. Additionally, a clear list of documents necessary for consideration has been created. Local self-government bodies are also advised to develop scientific project documentation within a year to define the boundaries and usage regimes of historical areas.

The Ministry of Culture has coordinated its project with regional and Kyiv city military administrations, indicating a broad involvement of local authorities in the process. The implementation of these changes will not require additional expenditures from the state budget, which is a crucial aspect given the current economic situation in the country.

These decisions will undoubtedly assist communities in better preserving their historical heritage while planning development with respect for the cultural environment. Importantly, the government has also adopted a resolution that updates the names of renamed settlements in the List of Historical Settlements of Ukraine. For instance, "Volodymyr-Volynskyi" is now simply referred to as "Volodymyr," "Dnipropetrovsk" has been renamed "Dnipro," and "Artemivsk" has received the new name "Bakhmut."

Other settlements have also undergone name changes; for example, "Dniprodzerzhynsk" is now called "Kamianske," "Slovianohirsk" has become "Sviatohirsk," and "Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi" has changed to "Pereiaslav." This reflects the government's active efforts to update the names and categories of settlements in the List of Historical Settlements of Ukraine.

Furthermore, the resolution modifies the abbreviation "smt" to "s-shche" in accordance with the enactment of the Law of Ukraine on the procedure for addressing certain issues of the administrative-territorial structure of Ukraine. This is also an important step towards modernizing the country's administrative-territorial organization.

As reported by Ukrinform, the government has approved a procedure for restoring historical names to geographical objects that contain symbols of Russian imperial politics. This demonstrates the state's commitment to restoring historical justice and preserving national identity.

Thus, the updated rules for granting historical status to settlements, along with the changes in settlement names, represent significant steps toward the preservation of Ukraine's cultural heritage and historical memory. Communities are gaining new opportunities for development that take into account their history and cultural characteristics.