Liberators of Rostov-on-Don, War monument in Rostov-on-Don, Russia

The Stela "To the Liberators of Rostov-on-Don" is a 72-meter stele on Teatralnaya Square, topped by a 100-tonne finial shaped like a ship's prow. On the Don River side stands a sculpture of the winged goddess Nike; on the square side is a model of the Order of the Patriotic War, First Class. The monument rises from a low, wide base with a dark reflecting pool in front.

The monument was built in 1983, marking the 40th anniversary of the city's liberation from German occupation during World War II. Soviet forces played the central role in recapturing Rostov during this conflict.

The memorial's name honours the soldiers who retook Rostov in February 1943. On the Teatralnaya Square side, the stele carries a model of the Order of the Patriotic War, First Class. An annual rally is held here on 8 May, and veterans and residents bring flowers.

The monument is illuminated at night and can be seen from multiple points in the city center. Visitors can best appreciate the structure from Theater Square and the surrounding area.

The 100-tonne finial shaped like a ship's prow tops the 72-metre stele. The side facing the Don carries a sculpture of the winged goddess of victory, Nike, which Soviet-era accounts called the Motherland; the Teatralnaya Square side bears a model of the Order of the Patriotic War, first degree.