Russian airport gets historic ‘Stalingrad’ name back

The change, enacted by President Vladimir Putin, honors the city’s role in defeating the Nazis during WWII

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree officially renaming Volgograd International Airport as ‘Stalingrad’. The name change comes in response to a request from veterans of the Second World War and the Ukraine conflict, as well as local officials.

“In order to immortalize the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, I hereby decree… to assign Volgograd International Airport the historic name ‘Stalingrad’,” the decree published by the Kremlin press service on Tuesday reads.

The Great Patriotic War is the Russian term referring to the period from June 22, 1941, to May 9, 1945, during which the Soviet Union fought against Nazi Germany.

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The renaming of the airpot in Volgograd comes less than two weeks before Russia celebrates 80 years since the victory over the Nazis.

The city of Volgograd has retained its name despite repeated suggestions of reverting to the Soviet-era title of Stalingrad over recent years.

The city was the site of one of the fiercest battles of World War II, which historians believe changed the course of the conflict in the Soviet Union’s favor and paved the way for the ultimate defeat of the Nazis.

From 1925 until 1961, the city and its airport were named Stalingrad in honor of Joseph Stalin. In 1961, they were renamed as Volgograd after the river on whose banks they are located.

There have been at least two major efforts to bring back the name Stalingrad, in 2013 and 2021, led mainly by the Communist Party. Over the past ten years, the city has occasionally used the name Stalingrad during ceremonies honoring wartime sacrifices as a gesture of respect.

The presidential administration previously urged caution over calls to rename Volgograd as Stalingrad.

Critics of the idea have argued that the step would provide a boost to Stalinists. The former Soviet leader remains a controversial figure in Russia, with some willing to overlook his role in repressing the population for the sake of his perceived achievements as a statesman.

READ MORE: Russian communists want Stalingrad back

A 2023 survey by the state-run pollster VCIOM found that around 67% of Volgograd residents were wary of the name change and preferred retaining the city’s current name.