Topics: Ukraine, Russia, Volodymyr Zelensky, Vladimir Putin, World News
Images have emerged showing a statue of former Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin reportedly being re-erectred in an occupied Ukrainian town.
The photos are believed to be taken in the Russian-occupied town of Nova Kakhovka, in the Kherson region, and shows the Soviet figurehead loom over an empty square.
Lenin was the first leader of the Soviet Union and is often seen as a figurehead for the former USSR.
Ukraine removed all of its statues of Lenin back in 2014, following the Maidan revolution in which 'decommunisation laws' were passed by Ukraine's parliament.
Pictures show the re-erected statue in Nova Kakhovka, as the Ukrainian deputy prime minister condemned the reinstatement, as reported by CNN.
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As one monument was erected, another was torn down in Kyiv, as a 27-foot Soviet-era statue symbolising Russian-Ukrainian friendship fell to the ground.
Speaking of the removal of the statue, Kyiv mayor Vitaly Klitschko said: “This monument... symbolised friendship between Ukrainian and Russian nations," as reported by the Independent.
“We now see what this ‘friendship’ is – destruction of Ukrainian cities, ruining the lives of Ukrainians, killing tens of thousands of peaceful people. I am convinced such a monument has an entirely different meaning now.”
The monument's removal and Klitschko's remarks come as attacks are stepping up in the capital city.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy reportedly said that the bodies of 900 civilians were found in the region.
As reported by Pravda, Zelenskyy is quoted as having said: “International institutions sometimes really do act quite slowly and sometimes...people cannot be held accountable due to the lack of evidence, despite the existence of eyewitnesses, despite everyone having seen it [the crime] take place.
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"But they [Russian troops] also cover the evidence [of their crimes], take the mobile crematoria which Russians brought here and which they are using to burn people, to burn their dead bodies.
"Despite everything, they are searching and their searches are yielding results.
“Imagine, so many civilians were killed that despite the fact that they [the Russians] burned [some of the corpses in mobile crematoria], another mass grave has been found in Kyiv Region with the bodies of 900 civilians, 900 people!"
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