Drobovych: Ukrainian culture gains significance, and it frightens adherents of the 'Russian world'

In a recent commentary, Ukrainian public figure Anton Drobovych reflects on ongoing debates about monuments and street names. He argues that pro-Russian individuals are alarmed because Ukrainian culture is gaining importance while the Russian culture they are accustomed to is losing its standing.

According to Drobovych, these people often portray themselves as defenders of culture at large, but in reality they do not know Ukrainian culture and have no interest in learning about it—whether it is the legacy of the ‘Executed Renaissance’ or dissident literature. They dismiss non-Russian classics as less significant, yet consider Russian literature to be fundamentally different and superior.

Drobovych explains that their resistance stems from a fear of losing their authority, which rests on a familiar canon of knowledge. The imperial matrix assured them of their importance, but now they face the uncomfortable task of re-evaluating symbolic orders and the established canon. He notes that this process is intensified by Russia's war: rockets, genocidal acts, and statements by Russian figures who explicitly use culture as a weapon force Ukrainians to reassess.

The author emphasizes that Ukrainian society is finally reclaiming its symbolic space, making decisions independently. This triggers discomfort among those who grew up in the 1970s–1990s, as their idols lose significance. Drobovych notes that Russian culture rarely holds the top spot globally—it is just one among many—and Ukraine's rejection of its icons diminishes that culture's reach.

Concluding, Drobovych states that the journey is about achieving full agency and the ability to take difficult decisions. The piece is the author's personal opinion; the editorial board is not responsible for its content.