Russian Forces Set Up Statue In Newly Occupied Ukrainian Territory

Images have emerged showing a statue of former Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin reportedly being re-erectred in an occupied Ukrainian town.

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.

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.

“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.

"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!"