The National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War has added a new exhibit to its collection: a monument from the village of Kotlyarka in the Popilnya community of Zhytomyr Region, which the local community named “Lenin–Taras Shevchenko.” The acquisition was announced by the Zhytomyr Regional State Administration’s Department of Culture and Tourism.
The monument will become part of the museum’s exhibition dedicated to decommunisation and decolonisation processes in Ukraine. The decision followed a presentation of the Heritage of Independence project, showcased on 11 December 2025 at the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine’s conference Culture and Investment.
“Including this monument in the museum’s exhibition is part of our strategic plans, Yuriy Savchuk, director of the museum, told LB.ua. These plans aim to reflect the decommunisation processes actively taking place in the country, including within our museum. For example, in 2023 we removed the Soviet emblem from the Motherland monument. So this is not a one-off action: our collection already includes the removed emblem itself, the Orders of Lenin from the former stela on what is now Halytska Square, and stars dismantled from the Alley of Hero Cities. This new exhibit is unique — it is like a drop of water reflecting the broader processes unfolding around us. That is what prompted us to reach an agreement with the local authorities, who agreed to transfer the monument to the museum. At present, assessments of the phenomena it draws attention to range from sharply contrasting to even mutually exclusive views. A museum perspective, however, offers an opportunity to look at these issues differently. This year, we have planned a series of events dedicated to discussing various aspects of decommunisation, including this monument in particular. I invite everyone to follow our events and join the discussion.”
About the “Lenin–Taras Shevchenko” monument:
In 2017, in line with Ukraine’s decommunisation law, the village of Kotlyarka decided not to dismantle the Lenin monument, but to transform it instead.
At the initiative of the village council and the local community centre, local artist Volodymyr Harasymchuk reworked the sculpture into a monument to Taras Shevchenko.
The artist reshaped the chin, “removed” the cap, replaced the jacket with a coat, and added a copy of Kobzar.
Funds for the materials were raised by selling the copper that had covered the concrete monument.
The Territories of Culture project is produced in partnership with the Persha Pryvatna Brovarnya company and is dedicated to exploring the history and transformation of Ukrainian cultural identity.