Kostiantyn Zaslonov Street in the Darnytsia District of Kyiv was renamed Hennadii Afanasiev Street in commemoration of the prominent Crimean citizen, human rights activist, former political prisoner, and soldier who sacrificed his life for Ukraine’s freedom and independence.

Born in Simferopol, Hennadii Afanasiev was an active participant in resistance actions during the occupation of the peninsula by Russia; in particular, on February 27, 2014, Hennadii recorded videos in support of pro-Ukrainian movements, read Vasyl Symonenko’s poem “Where are you now, executioners of my people?” and participated in the action of pro-Ukrainian activists near the bust of Taras Shevchenko, dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the poet’s birth. For his dedication and loyalty to the ideas of freedom, he was sentenced to 7 years and spent 767 days in Russian captivity, where he was subjected to brutal torture and torment. After his release, Afanasiev continued to struggle for the rights of Ukrainians and actively spoke at international platforms, where he testified about Russia’s crimes. In 2022, he went to the front, where he died in December during the battles in eastern Ukraine.

Renaming the street in honor of Hennadii Afanasiev is not only a gesture of honoring the memory of a courageous man who fought for Ukraine but also a symbol of national resistance and the resilience of Crimeans in the face of Russian aggression.