Kyiv demolishes a Soviet-era monument symbolizing Russian-Ukrainian friendship

April 26 (Reuters) – The mayor of Kyiv reported on Tuesday the dismantling of a Soviet-era monument symbolizing friendship between Russia and Ukraine, in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The statue depicts a Ukrainian and Russian worker on a pedestal, and together they hold a high Soviet friendship order. The statue was placed under the “People’s Friendship Arch,” erected in 1982 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Soviet Union.

“This monument … symbolizes the friendship between the Ukrainian and Russian nations. And now we see what this” friendship “- the destruction of Ukrainian cities, the destruction of Ukrainian lives, the killing of tens of thousands of peaceful people. I am convinced that such a monument enriched Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said A completely different meaning now.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began on February 24, killed and wounded thousands, reduced towns and cities to rubble, and forced more than 5 million people to flee abroad.

Moscow describes its actions as a “special operation” to disarm Ukraine and protect it from fascists.

Ukraine and the West are calling this a false excuse to launch an unjustified war for territorial control in a move that has raised fears of a broader conflict in Europe not seen since World War II.

As the monument began to fall, a crowd of people applauded, chanting, “Glory to Ukraine, glory to heroes, glory to nation Ukraine.”

Written by Mark Porter, Editing by Rosalba O’Brien

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