In 1991, the historical name of Leningrad was restored – Saint Petersburg. The circle was completed: the city, formerly called Saint Petersburg, then Petrograd, and later Leningrad, once again regained the name of the imperial capital.
In 1914, after the start of World War I, on a wave of anti-German propaganda, Saint Petersburg became more "Russian" and, on the initiative of Nicholas II, was renamed Petrograd. Clearly, the city was no longer named in honor of the holy apostle but after Emperor Peter the Great himself.
In 1924, immediately after the death of V.I. Lenin, the city was renamed Leningrad in his memory. Under this name, it entered world history as the city that endured the 900-day siege by fascists during the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945, demonstrating incredible resilience and courage. The people of Leningrad were not broken by hunger, cold, or bombings, and they carried the name of their city with honor through all the inhuman trials. Naturally, for the residents who survived the blockade, their city still remains Leningrad.
On June 12, 1991, at the initiative of the deputies of the Leningrad City Council (Lensovet), a referendum was held in Leningrad. The citizens were asked to decide on the restoration of the city's historical name, Saint Petersburg. By a majority vote (54%), the decision to rename the city was made, and on September 6, 1991, Leningrad regained its original name – Saint Petersburg.
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