---
title: "Pushkin Monument in Kamenka Dismantled: How and Why the Park Monument Disappeared"
description: "🗿 The Pushkin monument in Kamenka has been dismantled — not destroyed, but moved to storage. The decision was made under the de-imperialization law. The public is divided: some support it, others mourn. #Pushkin #Kamenka #Deimperialization"
date: 2026-07-02T15:14:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/pushkin-monument-in-kamenka-dismantled-how-and-why-the-park-monument-disappeared
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Pushkin Monument in Kamenka Dismantled: How and Why the Park Monument Disappeared

![Alexander Pushkin monument in Kamianka, dismantled in 2024: bronze statue of the poet in the park](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/02/pamyatnik-pushkinu-v-kamenke-demontirovan-kak-i-pochemu-izchiz-monument-iz-parka/pamyatnik-pushkinu-v-kamenke-demontirovan-kak-i-pochemu-izchiz-monument-iz-parka-1.webp)

On July 2, an event that has already sparked widespread discussion took place in Kamenka, Cherkasy region: the monument to Alexander Pushkin was dismantled from the city's central park. The monument, which stood in one of the most visited locations, was removed from its pedestal and moved to a secured area — not destroyed, but temporarily preserved.

### Reserve Decision and Legality of the Procedure

The dismantling was carried out by decision of the Kamenka State Historical and Cultural Reserve, which held the monument on its balance sheet. According to official data, the procedure was conducted in strict accordance with Ukrainian legislation. The object was not liquidated — it was transferred for free temporary storage under a special agreement. This means that the monument physically exists but is no longer located in public space.

### Why Did the Monument Lose Its Status?

The key factor was the decision of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine: the Pushkin monument was not included in the State Register of Immovable Monuments of Ukraine. This decision was made upon the recommendation of the Department of Culture of the Cherkasy Regional Military Administration and based on the recommendations of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance.

The reason lies in the monument falling under the scope of the law on de-imperialization of public space. The loss of official status as a cultural heritage monument automatically made its dismantling from public territory possible. Thus, the legal procedure became the decisive factor, rather than political will or public pressure.

### Discussion Around the Monument: From Protests to Red Paint

The question of the fate of the Pushkin monument in Kamenka has been a subject of debate for several years. As early as 2024, the city mayor, Vladimir Tiron, noted that a significant portion of local residents opposed the demolition of the monument. However, at the same time, the monument became the target of regular protests.

Particularly resonant was the event in December 2024, when unknown individuals poured red paint on the monument. At that time, the director of the literary and memorial museum, Alexander Mushta, commented on the incident as a "reminder of the need to cleanse public space of symbols of imperial heritage." This incident became one of the catalysts for the final decision to dismantle.

### Context: Mazepa Instead of Lenin — New Symbolism of Kyiv

The event in Kamenka is not isolated — it fits into a broader context of changes in the public space of Ukraine. On June 28, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy unveiled a bust of Ivan Mazepa at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and announced the installation of a full-fledged monument to the Hetman at the intersection of Khreshchatyk and Shevchenko Boulevard — where the monument to Lenin previously stood.

Earlier, the Kyiv City State Administration presented a project to develop this site as a barrier-free public space with a large fountain. The idea drew criticism from many Kyiv residents and public figures who believed that the site required not just improvement, but symbolic content corresponding to the new national identity.

### What's Next? The Fate of the Monument and Public Reaction

At the moment, the Pushkin monument is located on a secured territory. Its future fate is a matter of time and possible changes in legislation or public demand. For now, it remains in the status of a temporarily stored object, which leaves the possibility for its future return — either to another location or after a review of its cultural significance.

Public reaction is divided: some see the dismantling as a logical step in the process of de-imperialization, while others see it as the loss of an important cultural symbol. But the fact remains a fact: the monument no longer stands in the center of Kamenka, and this change has already become part of the city's new history.