Yuri Latysh on New Russian Monuments in Ukraine

In his article “Occupying History,” historian Yuri Latysh examines how Russian authorities are reshaping the cultural landscape of the territories they have seized in Ukraine. He describes how newly constructed military memorial complexes are being designed to blur the boundaries between past wars and the current conflict, reinforcing the narrative that these lands have “always” belonged to Russia.

At the same time, Russia is systematically dismantling monuments that contradict the notion of a “shared history” between the two countries. Latysh analyzes this emerging memorial landscape, detailing the appearance of these new monuments and the political and historical messages they are intended to project.