July 27, 2023

Shielded from Soviet Symbols


Shielded from Soviet Symbols
An artist's depiction of what the statue will look like after its makeover. Wikimedia Commons, DIAM – State Inspection of Architecture and Urban Planning (Government of Ukraine)

On July 13, the Ukrainian government announced plans to replace a Soviet seal on a patriotic statue with a Ukrainian symbol. Now, work is underway to construct a metal trident for the monument.

The Ukrainian State Inspection of Architecture and Urban Planning is working to replace the seal with a massive Ukrainian trident, an ancient symbol of Ukraine dating back to medieval times and the modern state's coat of arms. The move will further distance Ukraine from its historic Soviet and Russian connections.

This change is in line with the Ukrainian public's opinion: A 2022 survey revealed that 85% of Ukrainians favored replacing the seal with a trident.

When Kyiv's Motherland Monument was completed in 1981, the Soviet hammer-and-sickle on its shield was not unusual. After all, Ukraine was a critical part of the USSR at the time. Since then, the 355-foot-tall monument has dominated Kyiv's skyline as one of its most iconic landmarks.

However, since conflict with Russia began in 2013 and especially in light of the ongoing invasion, there has been an increasing movement to do away with Russian ans Soviet symbols and replace them with Ukrainian ones. 

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Some of Our Books

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Little Golden Calf
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Steppe
July 15, 2022

Steppe

This is the work that made Chekhov, launching his career as a writer and playwright of national and international renown. Retranslated and updated, this new bilingual edition is a super way to improve your Russian.

The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

Frogs Who Begged...
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Frogs Who Begged...

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Moscow and Muscovites
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Fish
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This mesmerizing novel from one of Russia’s most important modern authors traces the life journey of a selfless Russian everywoman. In the wake of the Soviet breakup, inexorable forces drag Vera across the breadth of the Russian empire. Facing a relentless onslaught of human and social trials, she swims against the current of life, countering adversity and pain with compassion and hope, in many ways personifying Mother Russia’s torment and resilience amid the Soviet disintegration.

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