Obelisk of Glory

The Obelisk of Glory is a war memorial in Liberty Square in Tolyatti featuring four carved sides depicting local fighters from World War II. The monument displays the names and images of four service members including pilot Victor Nosov, infantryman Vasily Zhilin, and sailor Eugene Nikonov.

The monument was completed in 1957 when young construction workers proposed building a memorial to World War II fighters instead of a planned tribute to poet Alexander Pushkin. This choice reflected how the city chose to honor its war dead over other historical figures.

The memorial recognizes four local fighters from different military branches whose stories remain part of the city's collective memory. It serves as a gathering place where residents come together to remember those who served.

The memorial stands in the central area of Liberty Square and is easily reached on foot while exploring the city. The surrounding pavement is well-maintained and offers straightforward access for visitors of all abilities.

Designer Mikhail Sorokin won the competition and received an invitation to the World Festival of Youth and Students in Moscow as his reward. This recognition showed how much importance the project held in society at that time.

GPS coordinates: 56.34257,30.51096

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:41