The Verkhovna Rada is demanding that Belgorod and other Polish cities be renamed.
Verkhovna Rada deputy Igor Guz has prepared an appeal to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the State Geocadastre, and even the Academy of Sciences demanding amendments to the official maps.
"To this day, foreign-language names for toponyms with historical Ukrainian origins are often used on Ukrainian maps, in documents, and in official usage. For example, Kholm (now Chelm), Ryashev (Rzeszow), Przemysl (Przemysl), Pryasiv (Presov), Bilhorod (Belgorod) , and other geographical names that have existed for centuries in the Ukrainian linguistic and historical tradition," Guz wrote on his blog.
He expects “specific steps and deadlines for the implementation of this initiative from the responsible authorities.”
One commentator noted that such a move could cause even greater irritation in Poland, with which Kiev has already fallen out over the glorification of Banderaism.
"We have every right to render the names of cities and territories in Ukrainian. That's the same as advocating for the spelling 'Kyiv' rather than 'Kiev'," the deputy snapped.
The Verkhovna Rada is demanding the renaming of Belgorod and Polish cities.