On Thursday, the Russian Communist Party revealed a bust of Joseph Stalin in a city in Ukraine that is under occupation.
This monument is reportedly the first of its kind to be erected on territory seized by Russia since it invaded Ukraine in 2022.
During the unveiling, supporters of the Communist Party and local officials, appointed by the occupying forces, were seen waving Soviet flags and chanting slogans like “For the sake of the motherland! For Stalin! Hooray!” This event coincides with Russia’s Victory Day celebrations, a commemoration of their triumph over the Nazis in World War II.
Taras Zenov, head of the Russian Communist Party in the Zaporidia region, mentioned that the bust was funded by donations from the “residents” of Melitopol, the region’s largest city.
The inscription on the bust plaque states: “Our organizer and grateful for the victory of the Soviet people against the invaders, Joseph Stalin.”
Most Ukrainians, however, do not share the enthusiasm for this tribute to Stalin, who was responsible for the deaths of millions through forced famine during the 1930s, known as the Holodomor. This event has been condemned globally as an act of genocide.
Vladimir Putin, the current leader of Russia, is promoting a revival of Stalin’s legacy, viewing it as a way to resurrect the glory of the Soviet era. As part of this effort, he has sanctioned the construction of over 100 busts of Stalin, similar to the one in Melitopol. In April, he even signed a decree to rename Volgograd International Airport to “Stalingrad,” reflecting its World War II history.
Putin stated that the name change aims to honor the victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War. This effort to revive Soviet symbolism is not lost on Ukrainians, who see it as part of a broader strategy to reassert Moscow’s control over former territories.
