Statue of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin unveiled in Russian-controlled area of Ukraine
A statue of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin was unveiled in a Russian-controlled area of Ukraine, locals said Friday (9), marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's defeat of Nazi Germany.
Stalin is considered by many in Russia to be a hero who led the Soviet victory in World War II, despite the repression, famine and terror he unleashed that cost the lives of millions of people.
Under Russian President Vladimir Putin, Stalin's reputation has been rehabilitated and he frequently tops opinion polls of historical figures who command the most respect and admiration among Russians.
The Communist Party, now a pro-Kremlin political group, reported on Friday (9) that a bust of Stalin was unveiled in the Russian-controlled city of Melitopol in the Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzhia.
He called it the “first” monument to Stalin unveiled in “New Russia,” Moscow’s term for the parts of Ukraine its army has occupied and which the Kremlin claims to have annexed as part of its three-year offensive.
Photos of a bronze bust of Stalin, with his distinctive mustache and buttoned-up military jacket, have been published.
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