A Visit to Konstantyn Stepanov Street
Ukrainian actress Ada Rohovtseva has visited a street in Khmelnytskyi named in honor of her late husband, Konstantyn Stepanov. The street in the Grechany district was renamed in 2016 as part of a wider national effort to remove Russian influences from public spaces. For Rohovtseva, the visit was deeply poignant, as she was married to the Soviet and Ukrainian film and theater actor for 46 years. Stepanov, whose original surname was Voloshchuk, passed away from pancreatic cancer at the age of 76.
Memories and Family History
Now 88 years old, Ada Rohovtseva shared her memories of her husband during the visit. Her emotional reflection highlights the enduring legacy of one of Ukraine's prominent artistic couples.
“It’s as if I only just dreamed of having a husband... Yet life flashed by—our 46 years together, and now 22 years of my widowhood—and here I am standing on a street that bears his name.” - Ada Rohovtseva
The couple's younger son was also named Konstantyn Stepanov. Tragically, he died of cancer on July 1, 2012, at the age of 50, having been born on February 11. The family's history also includes the repression of Stepanov's father in the late 1930s during the period of the Ukrainian National Republic. For Rohovtseva, visiting the street was a significant act of honoring her family's memory and their contributions to Ukrainian culture.
Events like this underscore the importance of cultural heritage and remembrance in Ukrainian society. The ongoing process of de-Russification is not merely about changing names but about reclaiming and celebrating a distinct national identity. Honoring figures like Konstantyn Stepanov helps preserve history and cultural values for future generations.