Kirov, Russia was known as Vyatka for much of its history. In 1934, the city was renamed in honour of Sergey Kirov (1886–1934), a prominent Communist Party figure. Kirov was assassinated on 1 December 1934 by Leonid Nikolaev . His death had far-reaching consequences: Joseph Stalin used the event as a pretext to launch widespread political repression, which became known as the Great Purge . There have been occasional efforts to restore the city’s original name, Vyatka, but none have gained lasting momentum. In 2024, Kirov celebrated its 650th anniversary, marking the occasion with a series of events and local initiatives.