Deprivation of status and possible dismantling of the Arch of Friendship of Peoples

One of the key events in Ukraine in recent days was the decision of the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy regarding the former People's Friendship Arch in Kyiv. According to the official press service of the Ministry, this monument is considered not to be included in the State Register of Immovable Monuments of Ukraine. This decision opens up the possibility of dismantling it.

The Arch of Friendship of Peoples was erected in 1982 in Kyiv's Khreshchatyi Park to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the USSR and the 65th anniversary of the October 1917 Revolution. However, according to the conclusion of the Ministry of Culture, this monument is part of the symbolism of Russian imperial policy and needs to be completely dismantled.

It is important to note that experts point out that the myths embodied in the monument about the "reunification" of the two "brotherly" peoples do not correspond to historical realities. In the context of the conflict with Russia, this myth becomes a tool to support Putin's territorial claims, as well as a justification for the "historical statelessness" of Ukraine as part of the "divided Russian people."

The opinion of the Ministry of Culture also reflects the general impression of Kyiv residents about this monument, which is often associated with the Soviet regime. Residents of the capital have repeatedly expressed their attitude to it, calling it a "yoke" symbolizing the Soviet dictatorship.

The deprivation of the monument status and the possible dismantling of the Arch of Friendship of Peoples are important as a symbolic step of separation from the Soviet legacy and Russian influence. It also demonstrates the strategic importance for Ukraine in defining its national identity and historical memory.

Such decisions reflect the process of rethinking history and memory in modern Ukrainian society, which is actively defining its values and attitudes toward the past.