In the night of September 7, a set of statues depicting actors, positioned in the lobby of the Pionerskaya metro station in St. Petersburg, was restored to the circle where a vandal had disrupted the display last August. This update comes from Petersburg Diary, citing the press service of the St. Petersburg metro.
Sources confirm that a ring belonging to a female statue in the sculpture group disappeared shortly after the station opened on August 19. The metro’s press office indicated that the item was taken by a person who appeared to be intoxicated. The authorities stated that they would assess and recover the cost of the loss.
Earlier reports tell of a traveler who arrived in the city from Berlin. The visitor, accompanied by friends, wandered through the area and decided to seize the moment for a photo. While climbing onto a statue and snapping a shot, the individual placed weight on one of the horses, which had already been harnessed. As a consequence, plaster from the fountain’s edge chipped away, and a small triangular fragment from the top of a carriage detached. The damage resulting from the tourist’s weight was estimated at approximately five thousand euros.
In related news, the incident adds to ongoing discussions about artwork preservation and public accessibility within Russia’s northern capital. The incident underscores the delicate balance between inviting public interaction with art and safeguarding cultural treasures from inadvertent or intentional harm. Local authorities and cultural institutions have reiterated their commitment to timely repairs and proper restitution processes, ensuring the statues remain representative of their original design for visitors and residents alike. The event also highlights the broader responsibilities of travelers to respect publicly displayed art while exploring new cities. The St. Petersburg metro, alongside municipal cultural agencies, is coordinating the restoration work and reviewing security measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future, as reported by Petersburg Diary and the metro’s press service.