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It's just a symbolic act, but it seems long overdue.
An 8 meter high bronze statue was dismantled in Kyiv on Tuesday.
She has stood for Russian-Ukrainian friendship since 1982.
In times of aggressive war by Russia, it was now an impertinence for many.
Vitali Klitschko, Mayor of Kiev:
»
We now see what this
»
friendship
«
means - the destruction of Ukrainian cities.
.
.
killing tens of thousands of peaceful people.
I am convinced that such a monument now has a completely different meaning.
«
Even most Kiev citizens can do without the monument only too well.
Diana and Viktoria, residents of Kiev:
»
We don't need it.
We should have no relations with the nation of aggressors.
The new generation is against this
"
friendship of nations
"
because in reality they are an aggressor, our number one enemy and it is the only country that hates us and that has committed genocide in our country.
That's why we don't need this monument.
«
And the creator of the statue also came to see his work being demolished.
Serhiy Myrhorodsky, creator of the statue:
»
Can we be friends with Russia?
What do you mean?
This is our worst enemy, so the monument to Russian-Ukrainian friendship no longer makes sense.
«
So the statue must fall.
First the heads, then the bodies - accompanied by the cheers of the spectators present.
The statue will not be the last to be removed.
The city administration plans to dismantle 60 more monuments from the Soviet era.
