Photo: The opening of the Alley of Heroes in Troyeshchyna ended in a scandal
On June 30, the Alley of Heroes, dedicated to Ukraine’s fallen defenders, was unveiled in Kyiv’s Desnianskyi District. However, the ceremony turned into a scandal—some of the soldiers’ families complained that the memorial looked unsatisfactory and began refusing to participate, while on social media, authorities were accused of disrespecting the memory of the fallen.
According to “Telegraf” correspondent Yan Dobronosov, who was on the scene, there were numerous negative comments directed at local authorities while the memorial’s opening was being filmed. The actual appearance of the Alley differs drastically from what officials of the Desnianska District State Administration had promised.
According to those present at the opening, most elements of the previously presented project do not match the reality that the families of the fallen defenders encountered at the opening. Local authorities had promised to install massive memorial columns three meters tall and 40x40 cm thick. Instead, the structures turned out to be half the size.
In addition, the families were promised that the defenders’ photographs and biographies would be engraved on special metal plaques. Instead, they were shown small cards that were essentially A4-sized.
Journalists’ attempts to get an explanation from Desnianskyi District State Administration Head Maksym Bakhmatov came to nothing. “When we, as representatives of the press, asked for an interview, we were told, ‘Later.’ But later, Mr. Bakhmatov simply fled. I’ve never seen anything like this before…,” Dobronosov noted.
It’s worth noting that a powerful wave of outrage erupted on the social media platform Threads even before the memorial’s opening. Some of the families of the fallen and social media users criticized the project, calling it aesthetically unsuccessful and unworthy of a memorial.
One of the first to voice a public opinion was the daughter of fallen soldier Oleksandr Zaporozhets. She explained that about two months ago, she was invited to the Desnianskyi District Social Policy Office, where two models of the future memorial alley were presented.
“The families chose the option they considered more fitting for honoring the memory of our heroes. Four days ago, I received another call to approve a photograph of my late father… Our expectations remained the same as what we were shown at the beginning. And now—reality. I am the daughter of a fallen defender of Ukraine, and it pains me to see such a difference between what was promised and what was delivered. The memory of our heroes deserves respect, a dignified tribute, and honesty toward their families. “I ask you to judge for yourselves the difference between the project and the result,” wrote the daughter of the fallen defender, adding “expectations vs. reality” comparison photos.
According to the defender’s daughter, most of the families of the fallen heroes have already written to decline the memorial alley and filed complaints.
Social media users actively supported the woman, calling the low concrete posts with small photographs “a mockery” and questioning the appropriateness of spending public funds on such a project.
Although district head Maksym Bakhmatov avoided direct contact with the press at the opening, he had previously commented on the criticism of the project. The official stated that this Alley is “experimental in nature” and is being implemented in Kyiv for the first time in this form.
According to Bakhmatov, the idea of temporary structures was deliberately rejected to prevent rapid wear and tear of the materials due to weather conditions. Bakhmatov also claims that this project received official approval from the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance (UINR), which oversees memorialization standards.
As a reminder, the new memorial space was established on Chervona Kalyna Avenue—on the section between the “Florence” movie theater and the Desnianska District State Administration building.
Currently, the controversy surrounding the Troieshchyna memorial has evolved into a broader public debate among Kyiv residents about where exactly the line lies between the practicality of urban structures, aesthetics, and the dignity of honoring the memory of those who gave their lives for Ukraine.
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