In central Kyiv, workers dismantling the equestrian statue of Nikolai Shchors faced an unexpected challenge. The hooves, embedded in cement, could not be detached in the usual way, forcing the team to cut off three of the hooves to continue the procedure. The event was reported by the Ukrainian news agency UNIAN through its Telegram channel, which has been closely following the city’s post-Soviet monuments and their fate in recent years. (UNIAN)
Observers note that the decision to sever the hooves stemmed from structural constraints rather than a routine salvage operation. The workers proceeded with the cutting after determining the cement anchorage made complete removal impractical without risking damage to the surrounding pedestal. The move underscores the practical realities often faced in dismantling large commemorative works placed decades ago. (UNIAN)
Diplomatic and civic tensions around the statue have long framed Kyiv’s urban landscape. The Kyiv mayor, Vitaliy Klitschko, who has repeatedly weighed in on the monument issue, previously criticized the demolition and described the sculpture as one of Europe’s most impressive public monuments. His assessment highlighted a broader debate about how cities remember historical figures and how those memories are reflected in public spaces. (UNIAN)
The dismantling of the Nikolai Shchors monument began on the morning of December 9. Previously, its protective status had been revoked, clearing the way for relocation. The plan calls for moving the statue to the State Aviation Museum of Ukraine for storage, where it will join other artifacts of historical significance. The process has involved coordination among municipal authorities, cultural heritage experts, and security services to ensure safe handling and documentation. (UNIAN)
Shchors, a Soviet military figure who led factions during the Civil War, was commemorated with the statue erected in 1954 as part of celebrations marking the 300th anniversary of what was described at the time as the reunification of Ukraine with Russia. The commemorative symbolism associated with the monument has been reevaluated in recent years as Ukraine has pursued a redefinition of its public memory and historical narrative. (UNIAN)
Meanwhile, other acts of vandalism and removals have continued to surface in different cities. In Odessa, reports on November 18 described vandalism at a monument to Pushkin, which had been painted in a way that drew attention to ongoing tensions over national memory and cultural symbolism. The incidents illustrate a broader pattern of public space conflicts, where iconic figures become focal points for debates about national identity, history, and the direction of cultural policy. (UNIAN)
Earlier in Kyiv, a stone Soviet star was removed on November 4 in honor of the 60th anniversary of the Allied victory in World War II. Such removals reflect a steady process of reassessing Soviet-era symbols that persist in the urban fabric and in public consciousness. The changes are part of a wider trend in which cities reexamine monuments and artifacts that evoke contested periods of the past. (UNIAN)
In another instance, reports from Chernihiv indicate that a quote from the famous Ukrainian writer Maxim Gorky was preserved on a monument by leaving the inscription intact. This action signals how local communities balance literary heritage with political and historical considerations when dealing with monuments that carry multi-layered meanings for residents. (UNIAN)