A record number of monuments to Taras Shevchenko, fallen Lenins, and Motherland. Everyone knows them, but we decided to find unusual Ukrainian monuments that have become real highlights of their cities.
We hope that we can surprise you with our selection and, by planning a route through several of your favorite places, you will fill your treasure trove of impressions with joyful moments and your family photo albums with unique shots.
Monument to the "Sailor's Wife"
Location : Odessa.
Author: Famous Odessa sculptor Alexander Tokarev.
History : The monument to the "Sailor's Wife" was unveiled at the Odessa Marine Station on September 2, 2002, on City Day. The monument depicts a young woman, a mother, standing on a balcony, holding a little boy in her arms. Together they look at the sea horizon, waiting for the ship with her beloved husband and father.
Odesa was immediately built as a port city, so it is not surprising that most of the population linked their lives with the sea. There was once a phrase: "One half of Odessans walks the seas, and the other waits for them, staring intently into the distance." This is what prompted the creation of a monument that would symbolize the loyalty, patience, and love of those city residents whose husbands and fathers spend most of their lives at sea.
Monument to the Feeding Bull
Location : Berdyansk.
Author: Monumental artist Mykola Myronenko.
History: Have you ever heard of monuments to fish being erected? No? Then you're in Berdyansk! And although this is a monument to an ordinary fish - a bullhead, for local residents it is not just a fish. The entire Azov economy is based on this fish. Here bullheads are sold frozen, jerked, dried. This is what allows many local families to live. That is why this fish is called the breadwinner.
And the bulls also saved the local population from starvation during the mass famine in the thirties and after the war.
Monument to the Orange
Location : Odessa.
Author : Alexander Tokarev, architect – Vladimir Glazyrin, author of the idea – Valery Balukh.
History : In Odessa, you can find a monument to the orange that saved the city, or rather, the city port. This monument is dedicated to the event that occurred in 1800, when Paul I was presented with 3,000 fresh oranges and transferred to St. Petersburg from the Odessa port.
After Paul I came to power, he stopped financing the Odessa port. Since the city was supported by the port, it fell into decline in five years without financial support, so it was decided to send a gift to the emperor to ask for a loan of money to restore the port. Paul I was satisfied and fulfilled the request of the Odessans.
The monument was opened on the Day of the City, September 2, 2004. Externally, it is an orange from which the peel and particles have been removed. In the place where the particles are missing, there is a sculpture of Emperor Paul I. All this creation is located on a cart pulled by three horses. And on the orange itself are depicted the main buildings of the city: the Transfiguration Cathedral, the Vorontsov Palace and the Opera House.
Monument to the dumpling
Location: Poltava.
Authors: People's Artist of Ukraine Anatoly Chernoshchekov and sculptor Mykola Tsis.
History: An unusual monument to the Poltava dumpling, which is known all over the world and is the talisman of the city, is located in a quiet corner, in the historical part of Poltava.
The dumpling represents the well-being and prosperity of the family. The monument contains a huge dinner plate with twelve dumplings inside and a large spoon. This plate stands on a stand in the form of a wooden chair.
The monument was opened on April 1, 2006, but not for Humor Day, but for the birthday of Nikolai Gogol, who, by the way, made Poltava halushki famous throughout the world.
The annual Dumpling Festival is held near the monument. At this festival, you can taste dumplings with sour cream, cheese, meat, various spices and fillings. As part of the festival, a competition is held for the most delicious dumpling and many other interesting things.
Monument to lovers
Location : Kharkiv.
Author : Student of the Kharkiv State Academy of Design and Arts Dmytro Ivanchenko,
History : The monument to lovers in Kharkiv vividly expresses the theme of love, which is relevant at any time. This monument consists of two figures - a girl and a young man. They reach for each other, and their lips meet in a kiss. Under the arch they form, lovers and newlyweds take pictures and kiss. And this amazing monument was built on September 1, 2002, and immediately, from the first day, it gained popularity.
Monument to the Hedgehog in the fog
Location : Kyiv.
Authors : Capital craftsmen Volodymyr Kolinko and Heorhiy Kurovsky.
History : The Soviet cartoon "Hedgehog in the Fog" has probably been seen by everyone. It was filmed in 1975, and in 2003 a survey was conducted, according to which 140 critics and animators from different countries chose "Hedgehog..." as the best cartoon in the entire history of animation.
In 2009, a monument to the same Hedgehog was erected in Kyiv at the intersection of Reitarska, Zolotovoritska, and Georgiivska streets. However, the name of the monument is not simple - "Horse", in honor of the heroine from the same cartoon.
The hedgehog itself was made in an interesting way. The base was a tree trunk that had already rotted, and it was covered with a net in which screws were previously fixed. Tourists who visit the monument leave coins in the net in order to see the Hedgehog again.
The hedgehog sits alone and holds a bundle in his hands, as if he is about to break loose and go on a long journey, but the grasshopper is not there yet.
Monument to the cat Panteleimon
Location : Kyiv.
Author : Sculptor Bohdan Mazur
History : I think very few people who have been to Kyiv have not stroked the cat Panteleimon, who calmly "walks" about his business in the very center of the city, near the Golden Gate. A monument was erected here in 1998 in honor of the cat Panteleimon, who lived in a neighboring restaurant.
In 1990, when a cat appeared in the restaurant, it almost immediately became a favorite of visitors and staff. It was even considered the mascot of the establishment. Pantyush's cat was very attentive to customers and could not lie down to rest until he personally made sure that everyone was comfortable and convenient. Once there was a terrible fire in the restaurant, and the cat died. In memory of the incredibly caring cat, a bronze copy of it was installed opposite the restaurant.
They say that if you hold a cat by both its tail and ear at the same time and put a coin under its paw, your wish will definitely come true.
Monument to the first tram
Location : Kyiv.
Author : Sculptor Yuri Kiselev, architect Vladimir Sobtsov.
History : The most unusual landmark of the capital is the monument to the first tram, which is located on Volodymyrskyi Uzviz. And it is not by chance that it is located here. It was from this place that the first tram left in 1892.
Before the first electric tram appeared in Kyiv, there were horse-drawn and steam trams. Horse-drawn trams are horses harnessed to a carriage. It was very difficult for them to cope with the steep slopes and mountains of Kyiv. Later, the first steam trams appeared, but they could only pull one carriage and were very loud, they thundered and smoked, and they were very frightening to the drivers and horses.
At the end of the 19th century, Kyiv's economy was booming and the city was in dire need of regular public transport. It was decided to create a tram with an electric motor.
The monument to this tram appeared in 1992, it was timed to the 100th anniversary of the Kyiv tram.
Monument to Plumbers
Location : Berdyansk.
Author: Berdyansk artist and sculptor Mykola Myronenko.
History : Berdyansk is once again impressive. Here they erected a monument to a plumber whose name is unknown, and you can call him whatever you like.
The figure of this plumber is made in a very original way. The man holding a wrench and climbing out of a manhole looks very upset. His hands are tired and tense, the heavy manhole cover is pressed against his body and emphasizes the hard work of people in this profession.
It is very interesting that the hatch cover is decorated not with some anniversary inscription, but with the emblem of the Southern Hydraulic Machine Plant of the Berdyansk Plant, which manufactures pumping equipment.
Monument to the lanterns in love
Location : Kyiv.
Author : Artist and blacksmith Volodymyr Bilokon.
History : People in love are hardly surprising anymore, but lanterns in love are a novelty. In Kyiv, in the very center of the city, there is a monument to lanterns in love. The monument was erected in 2009 to celebrate Valentine's Day.
The monument to the lanterns in love is two ordinary lanterns sitting on a bench and hugging. By the way, there is also a place for couples in love next to the lanterns.
The lantern man is dressed in green and decorated with advertisements, and his lover is wearing a beautiful, bright dress.
From the very first minutes, the monument attracted attention and has not lost its popularity for many years; there are always many people near it, and everyone wants a photo as a souvenir.
Monument "Fiddler on the Roof"
Location : Kharkiv
Author : Sculptor Seyfaddin Gurbanov.
History : This monument was erected in 2003 on the roof of an ordinary, albeit old, house in Kharkiv. You won't see it right away, but only if you raise your head high to the sky. It is there, as if soaring, that the "Fiddler" is located. It personifies people endowed with talent, who seem to be detached from the earth.
Legend has it that once a conservatory student in love decided to impress his beloved and, to do so, risking his life, played a magical melody for her high on the roof.
Made of bronze, the Violinist, dressed in a classic tailcoat, plays music that, although you cannot hear, but if you are not indifferent to true art, you will definitely feel it with your soul.
Monument to the Frog
Location : Berdyansk.
Author : Monumentalist Mykola Myronenko.
History : Have you ever been crushed by a frog? Then come here! If you want to see the same frog that crushed you, then come to the embankment of the city of Berdyansk.
A large, contented frog sits on a granite pedestal and proudly smokes a cigar. Its fingers are adorned with rings, a massive chain around its neck, a mobile phone in its paws and hands, and a pile of money in its pocket. It weighs 250 kilograms and presses its entire weight on the heads of a man, a woman, an old man, and even a child. Their heads are strewn with coins, but they do not look happy at all.
Under the weight of the frog, many people suffer from their own greed and envy. And on the pedestal of the monument hangs a plaque with the inscription "Envy is a vice." This monument was erected so that everyone would remember that they are subject to these vices.
It is interesting that the monument still contains the phrase "A frog was not crushed during the construction of the monument," because it was built with the funds of local patrons.
The monument was erected in 2007 on the city embankment. Tourists love the Berdyansk frog and willingly take pictures with it.
Monument to the backpacker
Location : Lviv.
Authors : The idea belongs to Igor Dyky, a famous polar explorer in Ukraine who participated in three expeditions to the Arctic, and the monument was made by a master blacksmith from Zymna Voda.
History: The monument is located in the courtyard of the Faculty of Geography of the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv.
It was opened on May 14, 2012 as a symbol that unites all people.
The monument, almost two meters high, is completely similar to a modern tourist backpack, which contains everything a person needs for life.
This monument is truly Lviv, as Lviv is perhaps the most favorite city in Ukraine for tourists and Lviv residents themselves love to travel.
Monument to Salo
Location : Romny, Sumy region.
Authors : Idea – Viktor Strelchenko, execution – artist Larisa Zelena, sculptor Oleksiy Fedko.
History : This monument appeared on the Day of Humor and Fools in 2000 as part of the "Lard Lovers" festival. And this is the first monument to the Pig in Ukraine and Eastern Europe. It appeared thanks to voluntary donations.
On a small pedestal sits a fat, fat Ukrainian pig, mocking all people and their problems. And the inscription on the monument speaks for itself: "From sincere Ukrainians."
Monument to the Derun
Location : Korosten, Zhytomyr region.
Author : Sculptor Volodymyr Kozyrenko.
History : It was solemnly opened in October 2009 during the celebration of the second International Derun Festival. The monument is a makitra with appetizing, albeit granite, deruns, installed on a pedestal made of the same granite, red and gray, which is mined right here in the Korosten district. On the towel, which is placed on the pedestal, words dedicated to the derun are engraved.
Not a single penny of budget money was spent on the monument - the funds for its construction were collected by caring residents of the city. By the way, a year before the opening of the monument, a Ukrainian record was set on the Day of the Derun - a Derun weighing 118 kilograms, which was prepared using 100 kilograms of potatoes. Everyone who wanted to could try the favorite delicacy of Ukrainians - no one went hungry.
Watermelon monument
Location : Gola Prystan, Kherson region.
Author: Unknown.
History : In 2008, another strange monument appeared - a monument to a watermelon, and it is located in the Kherson region in the city of Hola Prystan. This city is considered the capital of watermelons, because half of all Ukrainian sweet berries are grown here. From here they are sent to different parts of Ukraine and European countries.
The monument looks like a real watermelon with a slice cut off. It is made of concrete. The giant reaches a height of 1.75 meters and a width of 1.20 meters.
The monument was erected as part of the annual festival "Ukrainian Watermelon - Sweet Miracle." This festival has been celebrated every year since 2002.
Boasting about their achievements, the locals didn't stop at the watermelon monument, and in 2015, melon and pumpkin monuments also appeared next to it.
Monument to summer residents
Location: Berdyansk, Zaporizhia region
Author: Mykola Myronenko.
History : A year before its creation, the city residents enjoyed a holiday, which was first held in honor of the end of the summer cottage and garden season. Since then, the local authorities decided to hold the event annually. The next celebration in 2005 was the year this humorous monument was installed.
People's attitude towards it is ambiguous. You can argue a lot about the sculpture, but the city is a resort and there are many unusual art objects in it that lift the spirits of both residents and tourists.
Cucumber monument
Location : Nizhyn, Chernihiv region.
Author : Local artist Leonid Vorobyov.
History : This monument is dedicated to the famous crispy Nizhyn cucumber, a symbol of the city. These cucumbers have been known since the time of Catherine II, by whose order they were imported to the royal court.
The monument was created by the "Nizhyn Cannery", which has been producing these incredibly delicious cucumbers since 1927.
The monument was unveiled in 2005. It is made of green granite brought all the way from Italy. It is a "small" cucumber, weighing up to 50 kilograms, resting on a pickle barrel, and the pedestal is built in the form of a cellar, where pickles are usually stored.
Blueberry Monument
Location : village of Huklyve, Transcarpathia.
Author : Uzhhorod sculptor Mykhailo Kolodko.
History : In the village of Huklyve in Transcarpathia, they decided to immortalize a useful berry - blueberries. This region is known for its huge plantations of this berry. It is here that the annual festival "Verkhovynska yafyna" (this is the local name for blueberries) is held, where you can enjoy both fresh berries and various delicacies with them, and wash it all down with a delicious blueberry drink.
The monument was erected in 2010, as part of the first festival. It is made of bronze and looks like a real berry with leaves, only it is the size of a huge apple.
Monument to worn-out shoes
Location : Kyiv.
Author : Sculptors Andriy and Petro Ozyumenky.
History: Have you heard about the monument that entered the Ukrainian Book of Records? No? Then read more carefully.
Near the Lukyanivska metro station in Kyiv, on Belorusskaya Street, there is a monument to the worn-out shoes of an insurance agent who wore them out while looking for clients, because, as you know, agents are "fed by their feet." But this is a monument in general to people who "stomp on their shoes" on the way to professional success. It is believed that if you try on these shoes, you will succeed in any endeavor, even a career takeoff is possible.
The bronze shoes are size 92, 80 centimeters long, and weigh 90 kilograms each. If these shoes were the size of a real person, they would be a giant over five meters tall.
The craftsmen made this miracle structure for four months, and immediately after its opening, the monument entered the Ukrainian Book of Records, because nowhere else will you find shoes of this size that you can even try on.
Monument to an unknown corrupt official
Location: Chernivtsi.
Author: Performance artist Anatoliy Fedirko.
History : If we combine the idea of a monument to the Ukrainian hryvnia and a choking frog, we get our next monument, which is called "Monument to an Unknown Corruptor."
It was opened on October 20, 2009 in the city of Chernivtsi. It was installed on Turetska Square.
The leading part of the composition is the image of a coin, 90 centimeters in diameter. To the left is a sculpture of a hand pushing this coin to the opposite side of the monument, where two palms are already waiting for this coin.
The coin weighs 90 kilograms, and the entire monument weighs 250 kilograms.
The monument stands on moving wheels, as if seeking shelter. But the author says that over time he wants to secure the figure so that vandals don't break it.
Monument to Humpty Dumpty
Location : Kremenchug, Poltava region.
Author : Unknown.
History : Anyone who has read Alice Through the Looking Glass will remember Humpty Dumpty.
There is a monument dedicated to this figure in Kremenchug, Poltava region. It was opened in 2003 in the central park of culture and recreation "Prydniprovsky".
Humpty Dumpty is a monument to a golden egg, with legs and arms, which reaches a height of 4 meters. This is a kind of illustration of the philosophical idea that life begins with an egg. The monument has gained immense popularity. It was not surprising to hear a telephone conversation in the city asking: "Are you to the left or right of the egg?"
Monument "Cupid's Arrow"
Location : Kropyvnytskyi.
Author : Architect Vadim Mezdrin.
History : At first glance, the name of the monument does not arouse any interest, because there are similar monuments in almost every city. But do not rush to such conclusions. The history of this monument is very interesting and absolutely unique. The funds for the creation of the monument were collected as part of a charity event. The money was collected by the art gallery together with the "Kirovograd Photo Biennale-2009". The nameplate next to the monument contains the names of all the patrons involved in the creation of this monument.
The monument is made in the form of a bench pierced by Cupid's arrow. It was conceived as a place for couples in love to spend their long, quiet evenings together.
The place immediately became a favorite, especially for couples getting married. This is where they always take their wedding photos. And there are many locks with the names of the lovers attached to the bench.
Monument to the moonshine still
Location : Cherkasy.
Author : Sculptor Mykola Petrenko.
History : In 2008, an unusual monument to a moonshine still was unveiled in the city of Cherkasy. It weighs 400 kilograms and is 2 meters high.
The monument is made in the form of a mustachioed Ukrainian with a mug in his hand, with a cat sitting next to him, as a symbol of home comfort, and behind them is a huge moonshine still. And the inscription reads: "Drink, but don't get drunk."
But the most interesting thing is that this moonshine still is also a working fountain from which real moonshine flows. But they say that it is just ordinary vodka, however, this does not make the monument any less attractive to numerous visitors.
Monument "Easter Sun"
Location : Ivano-Frankivsk.
Author : 300 craftsmen from 20 countries around the world.
History : The Easter Sun monument was made in 2007 during the International Festival "Blacksmiths' Festival". The height of the monument is approximately 3 meters, and the diameter is about 2 meters.
Attached to the disk are 12 metal rays, which are made of angels, bugs and bells. Each ray of this huge sun was forged by craftsmen from different countries, who possess different blacksmithing techniques. Thus, the monument became incredibly interesting, unique and truly international.
Monument "Gogol's Nose"
Location: Kyiv.
Author : Lviv sculptor Oleg Dergachev.
History : This humorous monument is located on Andriyivskyi Uzviz in Kyiv. It was created as an illustration for Nikolai Gogol's famous work "The Nose", and, at the same time, is dedicated to the writer himself, the prominent part of whose face is known to everyone who has seen his portraits.
The monument was installed in June 2006. It is made of bronze.
There is a legend according to which Nikolai Gogol, while walking along Andriyivskyi Uzviz, got caught in a cold rain, which resulted in an unbearable runny nose. So he could no longer think about anything but his own nose. That's when the idea for the story "The Nose" arose. Anything is possible, because, according to tour guides, if you hold on to "Gogol's nose," you can quickly recover from a runny nose. So there are always a lot of people who want to try it on themselves, and also take a picture with the famous character.
Monument to women's underwear
Location : Kyiv.
Author : Artist Volodymyr Bilokon.
History : A monument that looks very much like a globe was erected in Kyiv in 2010 near the Ukraina cinema. But you won't find the usual continents on this model of the globe. Instead, there are piquant details of women's clothing - panties and bras.
The monument is made of iron, so its weight is not at all symbolic - almost 300 kilograms.
The author insists that his work is a symbol of female beauty, and assures that the wishes you make near this monument will definitely come true.
Monument "Working Bee"
Location: Ternopil.
Author : Sculptor and architect Vyacheslav Matviyev
History : In 2010, a monument to a bee was unveiled in Ternopil near the Drama Theater, at the initiative of local beekeepers. The bee is a symbol of hard work and perseverance in achieving its goal. It was conceived as a symbol of a Ukrainian worker who, like a bee, works persistently and hard.
A monument was made in the form of honeycombs, on which a small bee sits. The "bee" is cast from bronze and reaches a height of 2.5 meters.
Monument to a smile
Location : Lviv.
Author : Sculptor and caricaturist Oleg Dergachev
History : Have you ever seen a fish smile? Were you surprised? Then you should go to Lviv. It is here that a monument to a smile is erected. A very small, about a meter high, smiling fish is located on Virmenska Street.
The cheerful fish first appeared in Lviv in 2001, as a gift from the artist, and delighted the city's residents and guests for seven years in a row, until in 2008 the sculptor replaced it with another, even more smiling and positive one. According to his idea, Lviv changes over time, so the fish should also change, as a symbol of the mood of this wonderful city. And it seems that Lviv has really changed for the better, because, unlike its predecessor, the second fish is smiling, as they say, from ear to ear.
But the fish is not only original with its smile – it also has fingers instead of fins. And in general, it looks somewhat like a human.
This is only a small part of the interesting and amazing, sometimes bizarre, monuments of Ukraine. They attract tourists and do not leave them indifferent. In any settlement you can find your own miracle. Take a closer look, and you will not regret it for anything.
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