It will take at least ten years to overcome Russian propaganda in Odesa – UINR

This opinion was expressed by the head of the Southern Interregional Department of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance Serhiy Hutsalyuk at a briefing at the Media Centre Ukraine – Odesa.

“Anti-Ukrainian propaganda has always said that Odesa is a russian city. For almost 30 years, the city’s residents have been the object of these narratives. After the 2014 invasion, many Odessans changed their minds, but there are still those who are convinced that russia is right. Unfortunately, there are people who were spreading Russian narratives even before the full-scale invasion and who are still in the Verkhovna Rada. But, again, many people in Odesa have changed their minds, particularly after 24 February and the recent shelling of the city. There are many examples of locals becoming heroes in defence of Ukraine. For example, six residents of our city have already received the highest state awards. Some of them are already Heroes of Ukraine, and some are equivalent to this title. However, in my opinion, Odesa will need at least ten more years to finally overcome Russian propaganda, because the narratives of Russia are still deeply embedded in people’s minds,” Gutsalyuk said.

Gutsalyuk also noted that it was proposed to rename the streets of Odesa in honour of six Odesa residents who received the highest state awards during the war with Russia.

In particular, on August 2, the sector of the Ministry of Veterans in Odesa region submitted to the city council a list of streets to be renamed: 

1. Zhukovskoho Street → Vitaliy Blazhko Street. He was a major, commander of the sniper group of the Azov Separate Armed Forces, died on 08.05.2022 while defending Mariupol. He was a holder of the Order “For Courage” of I, II, and III degrees. Furthermore, he had been defending Ukraine since 2014.

2. Generala Bocharova Street → Vladyslava Buvalkina – master sergeant of the Security Service of Ukraine, died on 20.03.2022. Holder of the Order “For Courage” of I, II, III degrees, Hero of Ukraine. He defended Ukraine since 2014.

3. General Petrova Street → Denys Maksyshko – senior lieutenant, battery commander of the 28th Separate Mechanized Brigade, died on 03/14/2022 in the village of Prybuzke, Mykolaiv region. Hero of Ukraine. He had been defending Ukraine since 2014.

4. Marshal Govorov Street → Valeriya Samofalova – a sailor of the Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 137th Marine Corps, died on 18.03.2022 in Mykolaiv. Hero of Ukraine. During the battle, for the first time in the history of the Russian-Ukrainian war, he shot down three Russian Mi-35 helicopters at once using Igla MANPADS.

5. Chernyakhovskoho Street → Artur Savelyev – a senior soldier of the Azov Regiment, died on 02.03.2022 defending Mariupol. He was a holder of the Order “For Courage” of the III degree.

6. Posmitnoho Street → Yevheniya Tantsiura – chief sergeant of the Azov regiment, died on the night of 29-30.03.2022 defending Mariupol. He was a holder of the Order “For Courage” of the III degree.

Read more: https://mediacenter.org.ua/news