Ukraine's Kyiv Statue Ditches Soviet Symbol for Trident

Ukraine has replaced the Soviet-era hammer and sickle symbol with a trident, the Ukrainian coat of arms, on the shield of the Motherland Monument in Kyiv. The move is seen as a step towards rejecting Soviet and Russian symbols and narratives and asserting Ukraine's cultural identity. The monument, a 102-meter-tall statue, has been a prominent symbol in the capital's skyline since its construction began in 1979. The Russian Foreign Ministry criticized the change, stating that "mother cannot be renamed." The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has been fueled by Putin's desire to undermine Ukrainian national identity and autonomy.