Independence Monument, Monument column in Independence Square, Kyiv, Ukraine.
The Independence Monument is a 61-meter-high white marble column topped with a bronze statue of Berehynia holding a guelder-rose branch. Figurative reliefs depicting historical scenes in Ukrainian Baroque and Empire styles encircle the base.
The monument was erected in 2001 to mark the tenth anniversary of Ukraine's independence from the Soviet Union. It replaced a former Lenin statue that had previously occupied the same location.
The monument features Berehynia, a figure from Ukrainian mythology, holding a guelder-rose branch that connects to ancient traditions. The reliefs around the base tell stories of pivotal moments in Ukraine's past.
The monument sits in central Kyiv's Independence Square and is easily accessible from all sides of the plaza. The open space allows comfortable viewing and walking around the structure from different angles.
The bronze statue at the top was modeled after Christina Katrakis, the daughter of sculptor Anatoliy Kushch who created the entire monument. This personal connection between family and national symbol gives the work a distinctive quality.
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