They want to rename Kirovohrad region to Kropyvnytskyi: Stefanchuk explained when this will become possible

The Verkhovna Rada has returned to the agenda the issue of renaming Kirovohrad Oblast to Kropyvnytskyi. However, the parliament will be able to consider and finally adopt the relevant changes only after the end of martial law.

This was stated by the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk during a briefing in Kropyvnytskyi on September 22.

According to him, the mere inclusion of the bill on the agenda does not mean that the oblast can be renamed in the near future.

Why the oblast cannot be renamed now

The reason lies in the procedure for changing the name of the oblast.

The names of the oblasts are enshrined in Article 133 of the Constitution of Ukraine, therefore, in order to rename Kirovohrad Oblast, amendments must be made to the Fundamental Law.

At the same time, Article 157 of the Constitution directly stipulates that the Constitution of Ukraine cannot be changed under martial law.

That is why it is impossible to complete the procedure for renaming the oblast before the end of martial law.

Stefanchuk explained that the draft law was re-included on the agenda in order to save it for further consideration after the legal opportunity to amend the Constitution appears.

Draft Law No. 0967 is back on the agenda

This is Draft Law No. 0967 “On Amendments to Article 133 of the Constitution of Ukraine (Regarding the Renaming of Kirovohrad Region)”.

It was registered in the Verkhovna Rada of the 9th convocation on August 29, 2019. In the previous convocation, the document had the number 8380.

On September 1, 2026, draft law No. 0967 was included on the parliamentary agenda.

According to Stefanchuk, after the end of martial law, the parliament will be able to return to the issue of renaming. During its consideration, as the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada noted, the position of the region’s residents should also be taken into account.

The history of renaming goes back years

The regional center was renamed from Kirovohrad to Kropyvnytskyi back in July 2016. The new name of the city is associated with Mark Kropyvnytskyi, a playwright and one of the founders of Ukrainian professional theater.

In 2018, the Verkhovna Rada also renamed the Kirovohrad district to Kropyvnytskyi and sent a draft law to the Constitutional Court to change the name of the region.

In February 2019, the Constitutional Court recognized the relevant draft law as meeting the requirements of the Constitution.

After the start of the work of the Verkhovna Rada of the 9th convocation, the document received the number №0967. However, the parliament never adopted the final amendments to the Constitution.

Thus, the Kirovohrad region will retain its current name for the time being. The Verkhovna Rada will be able to return to the issue of renaming it to Kropyvnytskyi after the end of martial law and the restoration of the possibility of amending the Constitution.