The Arch of Freedom of the Ukrainian People, which was called the Peoples' Friendship Arch until May 14, 2022, is one of the most famous monuments in Kyiv. The sculptural composition is located in the Khreschaty park opposite the Volodymyrska Hirka.
History
The current Khreshchaty Park was founded in the 18th century, as part of the City Garden. In the 1970s, an observation wheel was located on the site of the future arch. In 1979, the authorities decided to build a monument dedicated to the so-called "Reunification of Ukraine with Russia". Its opening took place on November 3, 1981, as part of preparations for celebrating the 1500th anniversary of Kyiv.
Architecture
The main element of the sculptural and architectural composition is an arch in the form of a huge rainbow made of titanium sheets. The height of the building is 35 meters. Under it are located: a bronze sculpture of two workers - a Ukrainian and a Russian, who jointly raised the ribbon with the Order of Friendship of Peoples, and a granite sculpture with a scene from the Pereyaslav Council with the figures of Hetman Bohdan Khmelnytskyi and the Russian ambassador Vasyl Buturlin.
Current state
Since 2015, questions about the demolition of the Arch of Friendship of Nations have been periodically raised. On November 23, 2018, activists painted a crack on the arch as a sign of solidarity with Ukrainian political prisoners held in Russian prisons. On April 26, 2022, the bronze sculpture of the workers was dismantled. In April 2024, the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy removed the status of a historical monument from this object and allowed its dismantling.
Authors: sculptor Oleksandr Skoblikov, architects Ihor Ivanov, Serhii Myrhorodskyi and Kostiantyn Sydorov.
Address: Parkova road.
