The Monument to Vladimir the Great is a 17.5-metre-high monument located in Borovitskaya Square in central Moscow. The Monument is considerably larger than the monuments to Patriarch Hermogenes and Alexander I, which are located nearby, in Alexandrovsky garden.
The opening ceremony of the monument took place on National Unity Day, November 4, 2016. The ceremony was attended by the President Vladimir Putin, the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev the Minister of Culture Vladimir Medinsky , the Mayor of Moscow Sergei Sobyanin... The monument was consecrated by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill.
Vladimir the Great, also known as Vladimir I Sviatoslavich, was an important figure in Eastern European history. Born around 958 AD, he became the Grand Prince of Kiev from 980 until his death in 1015. Vladimir's reign marked a significant turning point with his conversion to Orthodox Christianity in 988, which led to the Christianization of Kievan Rus', laying foundational elements for modern Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.
UNESCO Concerns:
There were fears that altering landscapes around the Kremlin could lead to it being removed from UNESCO’s World Heritage List. However, reports submitted satisfied UNESCO’s requirements.
Historical Relevance:
Critics argue that Vladimir has no direct connection with Moscow since it did not exist during his lifetime; Novgorod or Kiev would be more historically appropriate locations.
Russia-Ukraine Tensions:
The statue has been seen as provocative given Vladimir’s significance in both Russian and Ukrainian histories amid ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine over Crimea annexation.
Initiative of the Russian Military Historical Society and the city government. The monument was consecrated by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill.
Salavat Shcherbakova (architect Vasily Danilov)