The former Arch of Friendship of Peoples in Kyiv may be dismantled

The Kiev Arch of Friendship of Peoples may be dismantled.

This is reported by the Ministry of Culture on the official government website.

The department writes that the architectural structure has been removed from the register of immovable monuments of Ukraine and cultural heritage sites. Thus, the Arch no longer has immunity status and can be dismantled.

The decision was made based on the submission of the Kiev City Council and the subsequent expert opinion of the Ministry of Culture regarding the affiliation of this monument to the symbolism of Russian imperial policy.

“In the public consciousness of Kiev residents, the monument is identified with the Soviet regime, which is why the capital’s residents call it a ‘yoke.’ By getting rid of the monumental ‘yoke,’ we free ourselves from the remnants of Soviet dictatorship and Russian imperial influence,” summarized the acting Minister of Culture and Information Policy, Rostyslav Karandeyev.

Previously, there was a monument of Friendship of Peoples under the Arch, installed in 1981 as a symbol of the reunification of Ukraine and Russia, but it was dismantled after February 24, 2022.