Independence Monument, Kyiv

The Independence Monument is a victory column located on Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) in Kyiv, commemorating the independence of Ukraine in 1991.

Independence Monument
Монумент Незалежності
Independence Monument in Maidan Nezalezhnosti
50°26′20.87″N 30°31′56.92″E
LocationKyiv,  Ukraine
Height61/62m
Independence Monument
Statue of Berehynia

Stylistically it presents a mix of Ukrainian Baroque and Empire style. The monument was built in a compositional center of the square to the 10th Anniversary of the independence of Ukraine in 2001. The monument itself is a column with a figurine of a woman (Berehynia) with guelder-rose branch in her hand. The height of the monument is 61 m (200 ft).

The column is faced with white Italian marble that stands on a pedestal in the form of a Christian temple of Ukrainian Baroque and weighs 20 tonnes.

History

A monument to Vladimir Lenin formerly stood in the current position of the Independence Monument, which was dismantled in September 1991 after the Declaration of Independence of Ukraine on 24 August 1991.[1]

The reconstruction of Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) began only in 2000, and a competition was held from 7–21 September 2001 to design a new monument.[2] The organizers decided on three finalists and merged their proposals into a single structure, with Anatoliy Kushch commissioned as the sculptor, and his daughter Christina Katrakis served as model for the Statue of Berehynia.[2][3] The Independence Monument was inaugurated on 23 August 2001 by President Leonid Kuchma to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Ukrainian independence.[4][5]

In December 2014, the chief architect of Kyiv, Sergey Tselovalnik, proposed replacing the monument with a new one commemorating the Heavenly Hundred protestors killed during the Revolution of Dignity.[6][7]

The monument was cleaned on 23 May 2019, which required the use of special equipment and cranes.[8][9]

During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the monument was included in a list of heritage sites to be fortified against shelling and bombing.[10] It was removed from the list owing to cost concerns and its height making it difficult to defend.[11]

Design

The Independence Monument consists of a triumphal column and statue at its apex. The total height of the monument is stated to be 61[2] or 62 metres.[4][9] A spiral staircase is contained within the column.[4]

See also

References
  1. Голобородько, Ярослав (11 August 2021). "Як змінився Київ за роки Незалежності України: підбірка цікавих фото" [How Kyiv has changed during the years of Ukraine's independence: a selection of interesting photos]. 24 каналу (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  2. "Монумент Незалежності" [Independence Monument]. Kievtown.net (in Ukrainian). 30 April 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
  3. https://gazeta.ua/articles/people-newspaper/_divchina-z-pamyatnika-shozha-na-mene/370592
  4. "Наш символ — на недосяжній висоті" [Our symbol is at an unattainable height]. Урядовий кур’єр (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  5. "30 років Незалежності: пора надій і пасіонаріїв" [30 years of Independence: a time of hopes and passion]. Укрінформ (in Ukrainian). 7 August 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  6. "Майдану можуть прибрати монумент Незалежності та скляні куполи" [The Independence Monument and glass domes can be removed from the Maidan]. ТСН (in Ukrainian). 3 December 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  7. "На Майдане собираются убрать монумент Независимости и расширить тротуар" [On the Maidan, they are going to remove the Independence Monument and widen the sidewalk]. Gazeta (in Ukrainian). 3 December 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  8. "У Києві помили Монумент Незалежності" [The Independence Monument was washed in Kyiv]. Корреспондент (in Ukrainian). 23 May 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  9. "Монумент Незалежності в "серці" Києва помиють шампунем" [The Independence Monument in the "heart" of Kyiv will be washed with shampoo]. Depo (in Ukrainian). 23 May 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  10. Хлєбников, Володимир. "У КМДА пояснили, чому Монумент Незалежності на Майдані не захистили від можливих обстрілів" [The Kyiv City State Administration explained why the Independence Monument on the Maidan was not protected from possible shelling]. Big Kyiv (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  11. Осадча, Яна (16 April 2022). "У КМДА розповіли, чому не захистили від "русского мира" Монумент Незалежності на Майдані" [KMDA told why they did not protect the Monument of Independence on the Maidan from the "Russian world"]. Українська правда (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 6 May 2022.
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