Place Name
Previously part of Bayswater Road, this small stretch of road between Ossington Street and Palace Court was renamed on February 24, 2023 to mark the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The road was chosen by Westminster City Council’s Labour administration as it
is directly opposite the Consular Section of the Russian Embassy. Attending the ceremony was the leader of the council Adam Hug who was joined by the Ukrainian Ambassador to Britain, His Excellency Vadim Prystaiko. Speaking ahead of the installation, Cllr Hug, said he believed the new road name was a fitting gesture for a nation whose bravery had inspired the international community. He said: “The request for a new place name has come from the Ukrainian community itself. Westminster is home to Ukrainians displaced by the war, and our residents have opened their hearts and their doors to those fleeing Putin’s war machine. As the centre of an international capital, it seemed to us entirely fitting that part of our City should carry a torch for the unbowed defenders of Ukraine. It’s a small stretch of road, but we want to show the people of Ukraine that their struggle has a visible place in our City. Place names across London have changed over the decades to mark momentous points or figures in history, so Kyiv Road is part of that long tradition.” Prystaiko, added: “Kyiv Road is a symbol of solidarity with the Ukrainian people and a tribute to their unwavering spirit in the face of aggression. It is a reminder that the struggle of Ukraine has the attention of the international community. We are grateful to the Westminster City Council and its residents for their support in honouring our nation’s capital and its brave defenders.” The night before the unveiling a protest group called Led By Donkeys had covered the road directly outside the embassy with blue and yellow paint (the colours of the Ukrainian flag). Unusually, the properties on this stretch, measuring approximately 27 metres, remain part of Palace Court meaning that residents and the Guyana High Commission did not have to change their address.
