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On April 26, 2022, the dismantling of a Soviet monument to two workers under the Peoples’ Friendship Arch began in Kyiv. During the works in one of the sculptures, the head symbolically fell off.

The sculptural composition appeared in Kyiv in 1982. Its opening was timed to the 60th anniversary of the formation of the USSR, which was to be celebrated in December, but the composition had been made earlier, in October, on the eve of the 65th anniversary of the October Revolution of 1917.

Eight meters of the metal of the so-called “friendship” have already been dismantled. The second sculptural composition, installed nearby, is covered with special materials and will also be taken apart later. The remaining space will be used for modern and actual exhibitions. Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klytschko also said that the Arch would be renamed and highlighted with the colors of the Ukrainian flag.

The dismantling caused a stormy reaction on social networks. Opinions of Ukrainians were divided:

1) “Wow, well, we finally got rid of this junk, keep it up!”

2) “Hmm, you next step will be to forbid us to celebrate Victory Day? What a shame!”

3) “It is necessary to demolish both the Arch and monuments; there will be more space!”

We can only say one thing for sure: the process of derussification has just begun. This is a painful but necessary step in restoring national identity. We have too many Ukrainian heroes to talk about!