KPRF Deputy Proposes Permanent Rename of Volgograd to Stalingrad, St. Petersburg to Leningrad

A Communist Party (KPRF) deputy in Russia's State Duma has introduced a bill proposing to permanently rename Volgograd to Stalingrad and St. Petersburg to Leningrad, reversing post-Soviet changes and restoring the names these cities bore during World War II when they received the status of "Hero City." Deputy Angelika Glazkova framed the proposal as "restoration of historical justice" and preservation of memory of the Great Patriotic War, arguing that references to "the Siege of St. Petersburg" or "the Battle of Volgograd" sound awkward when cities carry different modern names. The bill would require completion of renaming within one year of passage, legally codify the status of Hero Cities to prevent future renaming, and mandate that city symbols include the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal.

The proposal has drawn sharp criticism from other deputies, notably Vitaly Milonov, who called it a "vile communist idea" and defended the earlier civic referendum in St. Petersburg that restored the name honoring Saint Peter. Milonov argued that the KPRF should not interfere with Russia's historical heritage. The legislative history shows that similar bills, including a 2015 KPRF proposal to rename only Volgograd, have failed to gain parliamentary support or local endorsement.

Public opinion data presents mixed sentiment. A 2023 poll found 67% of Volgograd residents opposed the rename to Stalingrad, citing concerns about costs rather than ideology; opposition rose to 72% by 2025. A 2021 St. Petersburg survey recorded 39% support for the current name "St. Petersburg" versus 26% backing "Leningrad." Since 2022, both cities have conducted temporary symbolic renamings on Victory Day and other wartime commemoration dates. In 2025, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree renaming Volgograd's airport to Stalingrad and described a full city rename as "logical," though he stated the decision should rest with residents.