A massive stainless steel statue of a woman holding a sword aloft stands on a hilltop against a blue sky with white clouds, surrounded by trees and a curved pathway in the foreground.

Motherland Monument Soviet War Memorial Kyiv Ukraine Summer Evening

The 62-meter tall Motherland Monument dominates the Kyiv skyline, a Soviet-era stainless steel statue holding a 13-meter sword and shield, photographed during golden hour with dramatic cloud formations over the Dnieper River valley.

The Steel Colossus of Kyiv

Rising 62 meters above the right bank of the Dnieper River, the Motherland Monument stands as one of the tallest statues in the world, its stainless steel surface gleaming against the Ukrainian sky.

A Controversial Legacy

Completed in 1981, this Soviet-era memorial was dedicated to the Great Patriotic War (WWII). The female personification of the Soviet motherland holds a 13-meter sword weighing 9 tons and an ornate shield bearing the Soviet coat of arms.

Engineering Marvel

The monument's steel structure weighs 560 tons and has never required repainting thanks to its corrosion-resistant alloy. Visitors can ascend inside the statue to observation decks offering panoramic views of Kyiv and the Dnieper River.

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