were set to get new names. Until 21 November 2015, municipal governments had the authority to implement this; if they failed to do so, the oblasts had until 21 May 2016 to change the names. If the settlement still kept its old name, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine could give a new name to the settlement. Violation of the law carries a penalty of a potential media ban and prison sentences of five to ten years.

In the early stages of