Support The Moscow Times!

Lenin Statue Reinstated Hours After Being Toppled by Ukraine Protesters

It wasn't bringing Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin down, but actually keeping him there that proved to be a challenge for Ukraine protesters this weekend.

The protesters succeeded in toppling a statue of Lenin in the central Ukrainian town of Vatutino on Sunday night only to see it being returned to its pedestal several hours later, news agency UNIAN reported on Monday.

"A group of unidentified persons detached the monument from the pedestal and toppled it. But it turned out that the statue, made of plaster and bricks, was solid enough to sustain the fall. Only the back of Lenin's head and his cheek were slightly damaged," the agency said.

Municipal workers put the statue back in place on Monday morning and fixed it there with a layer of concrete.

A number of Lenin statues across Ukraine have been targeted since early December amid ongoing protests against the government's decision to freeze a political and association agreement with the European Union, opting for stronger ties with Russia instead.

Related:

Ukraine Police Denies Arrests Over Toppling of Lenin Statue During Protests

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more