Vandalism on Mykolaiv Memorial Sparks Decommunization Debate

On Flotsky Boulevard in Mykolaiv, unidentified persons covered the Soviet star on the ceiling of the Heroes of Socialist Labor of Mykolaiv Region with red paint.

As Novosti N reported, citing eyewitnesses, other elements of the memorial remained unchanged. The paint was applied in an artisanal way - without using special methods of dismantling or civilized concealment of Soviet symbols.

Photo: Novosti N

It is currently unknown who did this and for what purpose. The city is in the process of decommunization, so the situation has sparked discussions among residents.

Recently, in Mykolaiv, utility workers removed a memorial sign to the Leninist Komsomol. It is located next to the Yunist cinema.

Back in January 2022, the bas-relief of Lenin and the plaques with inscriptions that were part of the monument were dismantled by the decision of the executive committee of the Mykolaiv City Council. Now the utility company is removing the remaining elements. The dismantling is being carried out by employees of Mykolaiv Parks.

The monument to Mykolaiv Komsomol members was unveiled in 1978 to mark the 60th anniversary of the Leninist Komsomol.

In December, in Mykolaiv, employees of Mykolaivski Parks dismantled communist objects in the Yunykh Heroiv Park, Admiralteiskyi Park, and Arkasivskyi Park. The process of decommunization in Ukraine is aimed at ridding society of the remnants of communist ideology.

Also in Mykolaiv, monuments were removed from the State Register of Immovable Monuments of Ukraine as part of the decolonization process. 27 monuments of Mykolaiv that were registered with the state before the Law of Ukraine on the Protection of Cultural Heritage came into force have lost their status and are no longer subject to entry in the State Register.

Earlier, activists of the organization Decolonization.Ukraine updated their list of monuments that they believe should be dismantled for decolonization.

Андрій Колісніченко