TOPONYMY OF ODESA REGION AS A MARKER OF DECOLONIZATION AND COLLECTIVE MEMORY OF THE RUSSO-UKRAINIAN WAR DURING THE FULL-SCALE INVASION (BASED ON REGIONAL MEDIA MATERIALS)

Abstract

This article explores the toponymy of the Odesa region and its transformation from 2014 to the present, identifying several distinct periods. It analyzes recent scholarly developments in the field, which underscore the relevance of renaming processes and highlight multiple factors contributing to the slow pace of decommunization and decolonization. These societal processes, along with the emergence of new proprial units, are examined through a source-based approach using regional media materials. This approach made it possible not only to document the changes in place names but also to analyze the phenomenon of social communication, audience feedback, and their influence on collective historical memory and the construction of new narratives. The study reveals that media platforms have played a key role in facilitating public discussions about new place names, encouraging civic initiative, and reflecting manipulative practices and speculative behavior by governmental bodies. The main categories of renamed onyms are identified, and trends in their formation within the public space of the Odesa region are examined in relation to the implementation of toponymic legislation.The functions of toponyms in the contemporary information space are articulated, as is the role of journalistic texts in processes of derussification, memorialization, public education, oversight of authorities and local self- government, and the development of national consciousness among Ukrainians. The study emphasizes that toponyms serve as markers of decolonization and play a significant role in the broader context of ideological transformation.Linguistic and semantic features of the new toponymy are identified, with examples provided to illustrate their connection to decolonization processes and correlation with wartime discourse. A content analysis of regional media and news portals has been conducted to determine their role and stance regarding the emergence of new onyms.Their discourse and rhetorical strategies are analyzed, revealing not only the memorialization of events but also the framing of renaming as an expression of national revival, identity, and resistance. The study concludes by outlining prospects for further research, particularly in examining the communicative dimensions of toponymic coverage in the Odesa region.