A statue of Soviet-era writer Mikhail Bulgakov, author of *The Master and Margarita*, has been removed in Kyiv, Ukraine. The decision to remove the monument was made late last year, but its recent execution has ignited controversy online and in the media, in both Ukrainian and Russian languages. The removal is part of a broader “decolonization” law passed in Ukraine in 2023, aimed at dismantling symbols of Russian and Soviet influence. This law mandates the removal of monuments and other symbols associated with Russia’s imperial past. Supporters of the removal argue it’s a necessary step to assert Ukrainian identity and distance itself from its Soviet history. Critics, however, express concern over the erasure of cultural heritage and the potential for historical revisionism. The move highlights ongoing tensions surrounding Ukraine’s national identity and its relationship with Russia.