In the city along the Dnieper, officials are weighing the removal of a long-standing monument to Vasily Margelov, the esteemed founder and early leader of the Soviet airborne troops. The report came from Strana.ua, an Ukrainian outlet, which cited the city’s mayor, Boris Filatov, as the source of the information. The proposed step mirrors a broader reexamination of historical symbols within the city and the region, a conversation that has gained momentum in recent years as communities assess the places and figures that shape their public spaces. —
Filatov outlined a plan to present residents with a temporary option to relocate the Margelov statue to the paratroopers’ site in the Dnieper area, effectively moving it from its current embankment location. The monument, erected in 2000 through a citizen- and sponsor-driven initiative, stands as a vivid example of community involvement in public art and memory. It was funded by local citizens and benefactors who believed the monument would honor those who served in a pivotal branch of the Soviet military, and it endures as a public testament to that history. The proposed move is framed in municipal discussions as a way to preserve the statue while possibly placing it in a more contextually appropriate setting, though the exact logistics and timing remain to be determined. —
Vasily Margelov, a native of the city, is widely recognized as the first commander of the Soviet airborne troops, a legacy that earned the unit a beloved nickname in some circles. For many locals, the statue embodies a specific historical memory tied to military achievement and regional pride. The announcement to relocate the statue invites a public dialogue about how communities remember the past, the responsibilities of city leadership in shaping that memory, and the balance between historical commemoration and evolving civic values. In this atmosphere, officials stress careful handling of the site, ensuring that any action respects the feelings of different groups while aligning with contemporary cultural and educational goals. A broader context in Ukraine involves ongoing debates about monuments tied to various eras, each case bringing its own set of political, cultural, and ethical considerations. —
Historically, the city has seen a sequence of monument-related changes, including prior reports about the dismantling of other figures and symbols in or near the Dnieper area. For example, a monument to the Russian scientist Mikhail Lomonosov has faced dismantling concerns, reflecting a larger trend of reassessing public art. Earlier moves have also touched figures and symbols ranging from literary icons such as Maxim Gorky to military and civic symbols, each shift prompting conversations about how memory is preserved or repurposed. In every case, local authorities have indicated that these works would be removed from their current locations and temporarily stored as part of municipal procedures, with the exact destinations and future exhibitions subject to planning and community input. The overarching aim is to manage memory with transparency, safety, and respect for varied perspectives, while keeping the public informed about developments and potential opportunities for education and reflection. The narrative around these shifts is ongoing, and residents are encouraged to follow official communications as the city navigates these complex historical decisions. The broader pattern shows a city working to reconcile its past with its present, often using storage sites and curated exhibitions to preserve heritage while allowing space for new meanings to emerge, all while maintaining a careful record of how each step is handled and why it is taken. Also noted in municipal summaries is the intent to relocate related artifacts to the public service site known as Zoocontrol, a move described as a practical step toward centralizing storage and protecting monuments during transitional periods, though the exact arrangements remain under discussion and subject to future updates. In essence, these actions illustrate a continuing effort to manage a layered heritage landscape that respects historical contributions while engaging citizens in a dialogue about how memory should be presented in a modern cityscape. —