(Kiev, Ukraine)
I’ve never done a post on monuments before but I feel like I should for Kiev. This city has some really well-made, grand monuments that I feel help to define the capital. So without further ado:
This monument is located in the main downtown area of Kiev. It’s stands in Independence Square and is the spot where many political rallies have been held including the four protest campaigns: the 1990 “Revolution on Granite”, the 2001 “Ukraine without Kuchma”, the 2004 “Orange Revolution”, and the 2013 – 2014 “Euromaidan”. The Independence Monument is a victory column dedicated to the independence of Ukraine and was erected in 2001 for the 10th anniversary of this independence. It stands at 200 feet (61 meters) and is topped by a woman figurine holding a guelder-rose branch in both hands. The statue is designed in the Ukrainian Baroque and Empire Style. This is one of the most famous landmarks in Kiev.
The next monument that I want to mention is the Motherland Statue. It is super impressive and can be seen from many parts of the city. The statue is towering and is even taller than the Statue of Liberty. The overall height is 335 feet (102 meters) and is made out of stainless steel. The statue features a woman holding a sword in one hand (stylized into an obelisk) and a shield in the other with the state emblem of the Soviet Union. The statue faces Moscow and is a war monument. Originally, the location was meant to include two statues, one of Vladimir Lenin and the other of Joseph Stalin, however these plans were scrapped and this statue was built instead. Construction began in 1979 and officially opened in 1981.
In modern day Kiev, this statue remains controversial with many people calling for it to be taken down. In April of 2015, the Ukrainian Parliament declared that all soviet and communist symbols would be banned in a decommunization attempt. This statue was exempt as all World War II monuments are excluded from this law. Still, there is a call to remove the soviet symbolism from the shield. Also, there is an eternal flame monument located near this statue but due to financial shortages, it is only burned on big national holidays as it consumes up to 14,000 cubic feet of gas per hour.
Despite the controversy, this statue is well worth the visit as it sits on a complex of war museums including a large open-air soviet-era tank and helicopter museum.
Walking towards the deepest underground metro station in the world, Arsenalna, from the Motherland statue, Grant and I passed two more monuments in a nice park. This one is of a candle and is dedicated to the 4 million people estimated to have starved to death in a soviet famine extermination program called the Holodomor between 1932 – 1933. Below this memorial is the National Museum of Holodomor Victims that one can visit if they are interested in learning more about this sad time in Ukrainian history. The memorial is located in the Pechersk Hills Park and overlooks the river below.
Near the Holodomor memorial, as you walk toward the subway station is a black obelisk dedicated to World War II soldiers. There is a path leading from the main road to the obelisk with stone plaques of famous generals who fought on the soviet side during this war. There is also a flame near this monument that was lit. This park is very nice for a stroll and is within walking distance of Maryinsky Palace, the official ceremonial residence of the President of Ukraine.
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