Ukrainian heroes. Prague renamed part of Korunovační Street near the Russian Embassy
The part of Korunovační Street near the Russian Embassy bears the new name of the Ukrainian heroes. Representatives of Prague, together with the Ukrainian ambassador, exchanged street signs on the spot on Friday. Prague also named the adjoining bridge, which was still part of Korunovační Street. He will bear the name of the Ukrainian soldier Vitaly Skakun, who sacrificed himself during the launch of the bridge and thus stopped the Russian attack on the city of Kherson.
The proposal to rename the street, which was presented by the meeting of the representatives of Prague 6 in February shortly after the beginning of the invasion by the representative Libor Bezděk (STAN), is provided by the topography commission and the Prague City Council, including the mayor.
“I welcome and support the proposal to rename the street at the Russian embassy from Coronation to Ukrainian heroes. The incredible courage of Ukrainian fighters is due to be appreciated,” Mayor Zdeněk Hřib (Pirates) wrote on his Twitter account a month ago.
Part of Korunovační Street has been listed in the cadastre as Ukrainian heroes since the beginning of April, a new sign the city installed this Friday. According to Prague councilor Jan Chabr (TOP 09), the change will not complicate the inhabitants, because no one lives in the part of the street near Boris Němcová Square. “There is no natural person in the territory who would have to change his identity card, nor is there any registered office of any legal entity other than the Russian Federation,” the councilor said.
The Russian embassy will have to use the new street name, or refer to the adjacent Boris Nemtsov Square, which was assassinated by a Russian opposition politician, or it may have problems delivering mail over time. However, now the post office will also deliver shipments marked with the original address.
Post spokesman Matyáš Vitík also confirmed, who said a month ago that if the street was renamed, the change would be reflected in the Czech Post’s databases, according to which consignments are delivered to the address. “During the bridging period, the length of which is not strictly given, the Czech Post also delivers consignments to the addresses in which the original street name is written,” said Vitík.
He added that the post office does so so as not to cause problems, therefore, messages that may not change. “Institutions, authorities, companies or people should, in their own interest, inform those they correspond with about the change of address,” Vitík said.
At the same time as renaming part of the street, the deputies also approved the naming of the adjacent bridge over the railway line after the Ukrainian war hero Vitaly Skakun. Ten February 24 in the Ukrainian city of Kherson, where he blew up a bridge to prevent the advance of Russian troops. Skakun Bridge now connects Korunovační with the newly named Ukrainian Heroes Street.
However, not all politicians agreed to change the name of the street. For example, Ondřej Prokop, the head of the ANO representatives’ club, criticized her. “I can’t resist that it comes to me as such a cheap PR gesture of some representatives in Prague 6, instead of paying attention to what really worries Praguers,” he said. He added that the name Coronation has a historical meaning. But Chabr replied that nothing would change. “Korunovační street in Prague remains, it only shortens by about 150 meters,” he said.
The Prague Topography Commission also discussed proposals to rename Ruská, Moskevská and other streets, but in this case they were all against it. The Commission, on the other hand, agreed that Koněvova Street should be renamed.
In connection with the war in Ukraine, Prague 22 also symbolically renamed one of its streets. “The name of our main street in Uhříněves refers to the friendship between Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union. It is symbolic that we will give it a different meaning right now,” said Councilor Štěpán Zmátlo (KDU-ČSL). The name has not officially changed.