Russia should rename the Gulf of Finland because the country has been "developing it since ancient times," according to Mikhail Myagkov, scientific director of the Russian Military Historical Society.
Speaking at the presentation of The Black Book: A Brief History of Swedish and Finnish Russophobia, Myagkov suggested that the body of water should be called the St. Petersburg Gulf or the Gulf of St. Petersburg.
According to TASS, he also claimed that Western countries are attempting to "lock" Russia inside the gulf and prevent its navy from operating freely.
Acknowledging that the proposal might seem “too shocking” to some, Myagkov insisted that renaming the gulf would be "historically fair."
Geopolitical Renaming Efforts Gain Momentum
This is not the first time Russian politicians have proposed revising geographical names to reflect historical or national identity.
Inspired by Donald Trump’s reported decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the American Gulf, Denis Bulanov, a deputy in Russia’s Saratov Regional Duma, suggested renaming the Black Sea to the Russian Sea.
He argued that historical chronicles referred to it as such for centuries. However, he acknowledged that the new name would be used only within Russia, as neighboring countries, including Turkey, would not recognize the change.
Trump’s supposed renaming of the Gulf of Mexico sparked reactions from Mexican leaders.
President Claudia Sheinbaum jokingly suggested calling the United States "Mexican America", while former Culture Minister José Alfonso Suárez del Real dismissed the renaming attempt, pointing out that the Gulf of Mexico is internationally recognized and has been a maritime landmark for centuries.
This was reported by the Moscow Times.
Poland and Lithuania Challenge Russian Place Names
Meanwhile, Poland has undertaken its own renaming campaign, officially changing Kaliningrad to Królewiec, the Polish historical name for the city. The decision also included renaming the Kaliningrad region to Królewiec.
Polish officials argued that the name "Kaliningrad" is artificial and offensive, as it commemorates Soviet politician Mikhail Kalinin, who played a role in the Katyn massacre of over 20,000 Poles in 1940.
Following Poland’s move, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda reaffirmed that Kaliningrad belongs to Lithuania Minor and insisted that the city would always be known in Lithuania as Karaliaučius, rejecting Russia’s claim over the name.
