The statue of Vladimir Lenin in Sloviansk has seen its last sunrise. In a belated act to overcome its Soviet past and warn the Kremlin not to retake the Donetsk Oblast city, which Ukrainian forces liberated a year ago, the city administration carefully dismantled the statute on the central square on June 3. The monument is now up for sale to the highest bidder. The money will go to rebuilding homes damaged by Russia's war against Ukraine, Deputy Mayor Andrey Belozerov said.
At 5 a.m., Ukrainian soldiers with a truck-mounted crane arrived and began to swiftly separate the seven tons of pure bronze from the granite pedestal. In larger cities, such as Kharkiv and Kyiv, demonstrators already have torn down the remnants of the Soviet regime such as Lenin statutes and emblems. However, the monuments remain in many other cities.
At this time it is yet unclear whether another monument will be erected to replace Lenin. For now a Ukrainian flag flies high on top of the pedestal.
Photo courtesy by 6262.com.ua
