A scandal has erupted in Kamianets-Podilskyi over the renaming of a stadium
In Kamianets-Podilskyi, the issue of renaming the city stadium—which since 1994 has been named after Hryhorii Tonkochiev, the first secretary of the Kamianets-Podilskyi City Committee of the Communist Party—has been raised. The proponents of the change cite decommunization legislation, while residents continue to debate a possible new name.
The city stadium in Kamianets-Podilskyi is slated for renovation at the expense of the “Epicenter” soccer club.
Club president Ivan Chernonog previously stated that they intend to build a new grandstand at the arena and increase the stadium’s capacity to 8,000 spectators in accordance with the requirements of the Ukrainian Premier League and European cup tournaments. There are also plans to cover the stands.
As part of the renovation, the stadium is set to receive a new name, though no final decision has been made yet.
The page’s authors noted that the stadium is over 60 years old and is associated with soccer and track and field competitions, sporting events, and the memories of several generations of Kamianets-Podilskyi residents.
“Since 1994, the stadium has been named after Hryhorii Tonkocheyev. It was under his leadership that construction of the sports complex began in 1959, and his contribution to the development of Kamianets’ sports infrastructure is part of the city’s history,” the post states.
At the same time, the authors highlighted the political activities of Hryhorii Tonkocheiev, who served as first secretary of the Kamianets-Podilskyi City Committee of the Communist Party.
“Ukrainian law requires the removal of names associated with leading figures of the communist totalitarian regime from public spaces. Therefore, the issue of the stadium’s name needs to be resolved,” the page’s authors noted.
The post has already garnered over 100 comments. Residents’ opinions are divided: some support the renaming, while others oppose it or call for a more detailed investigation into Grigory Tonkocheyev’s role in the city’s development.
Among those in favor of renaming, the most common suggestions are neutral names associated with Kamianets-Podilskyi, the Smotrych River, or the Podillia region.
Daryna Bodnar supported the renaming and proposed the name “Smotrych Arena.” In her opinion, such a name would suit a sports arena that is mentioned during UPL broadcasts. She also believes that sports facilities should unite the community around sports and the future, rather than serve as a reminder of the Soviet system.
Volodymyr Prostyi also spoke in favor of the renaming. He linked the current name to the Soviet past and emphasized that Ukraine has been independent for 35 years. He also cited the need to comply with decommunization legislation.
Vitalii Lomikovskyi proposed the name “Arena Kamianets,” calling it “a good, neutral name.”
Gennadiy Bayuk, on the other hand, believes the stadium should be named after Volodymyr Kaplychny—a native of Kamianets-Podilskyi, a World Cup participant, a silver medalist at the European Championship, and captain of the former USSR national team.
Oleksandr Chornyi proposed another option. He believes the stadium could remain the “Central City Stadium.” In his view, such a name would be clear regardless of political or other changes and would not require renaming in the future.
If the name is to be changed, Oleksandr Chornyi suggests “Podillia Arena.” He explains his choice by noting that Podillia is an established geographical name that will remain relevant regardless of changes in teams or politics.
Not all participants in the discussion believe that the renaming should proceed without further study of the stadium’s history.
Mykhailo Horda noted that the stadium will likely be renamed sooner or later, but suggested deciding on a new name with the participation of the entire community—by holding a referendum among Kamianets residents.
Oleksandr Yatskevych spoke out against the renaming. He believes that changing the name could mean losing the memory of the people who once built the city’s infrastructure.
Viktor Pavlov called for residents to first be provided with information about Grigory Tonkocheyev’s activities. He also explained that the stadium’s construction involved the participation of local residents and noted that he personally worked hours on the construction site in place of his mother.
According to Pavlov, it is first necessary to thoroughly research the history of the stadium’s construction and Tonkocheyev’s work, and only then make a decision about renaming it.
Ruslan Kuzyk spoke out directly against the name change. He urged people to seek the opinions of those who have spent a significant part of their lives at this stadium and consider it a special place.
Another user suggested first determining Grigory Tonkocheyev’s contribution to the city’s development.
Oleg Voshchynskyi wrote that before discussing the renaming, it would be worth asking, “Who is Tonkocheyev, and how much good has he done for the city?”
At the same time, Nika Godz spoke out against the practice of naming facilities after officials solely based on their work. She suggested using geographical names—such as “Tovtry Arena” or “Podillia Arena.”
Most commenters support renaming the stadium.
Most often, residents suggest not naming the arena after a specific person, but rather using geographically neutral options. Suggestions in the comments include “Smotrych,” “Kamianets,” “Fortress,” “Podillia,” as well as “Kamianets Arena,” “Fortress Arena,” and “Podillia Arena.”
Thus, the debate over the name of the city stadium in Kamianets-Podilskyi continues. No final decision on the arena’s new name has been made yet.
This is stated in a post on the “City Stadium I Kamianets-Podilskyi” Facebook page.
Earlier in Odesa, Ilf and Petrov Street was renamed in honor of the Glodan family, all of whom perished as a result of the war.
