Since the end of August 2024, social network users have been distributing a photograph that allegedly shows a monument to the Soviet leader painted in blue and yellow colors in one of the settlements taken by the Ukrainian Armed Forces during an operation on Russian territory. We have verified the accuracy of such posts.

The viral photo shows a monument to Lenin, painted in the colors of the Ukrainian flag. On the pedestal it is written in Ukrainian: “Glory to Ukraine - glory to the heroes!” With the caption that the picture was taken in the Kursk region, it was published by Telegram channels “Trash⚡️Advance | Kursk"(75,000 views at the time of writing this analysis) and "Typical Ukraine - news» (45,000), numerous users Facebook, X and other social networks. At the same time, the photo was posted in the channel “Militarist”(97,000 views) with the comment “The Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to fight with monuments,” without specifying, however, where exactly the photo was taken. The news was also widely circulated Ukrainian speaking And English-speaking social network segments.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces' invasion of the Kursk region began on August 6. According to Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, by August 19, the Ukrainian army controlled about 100 settlements on an area of more than 1200 square meters. km. In September the Russian army started conducting there are major counterattacks in the region, September 12 this information confirmed and Zelensky. On the same day, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported on the liberation of ten settlements in the Kursk region.

The viral posts do not specify in which city or town there is a monument to Lenin, repainted in the colors of the Ukrainian flag. The consequences of hostilities are not visible on the sculpture, pedestal and nearby buildings, and there is no foliage on the trees in the background, which is not typical for the Kursk region in August-September.

Based on Google reverse image search results, this photo was taken at least nine years ago. For example, with a very similar photo in November 2015, I wrote my note illustrated Russian state agency TASS, and the author articles on the website of the BBC Ukrainian Service noted that the photo was taken in the village of Chernukhino in the Lugansk region of Ukraine. At the same time, the British tabloid Daily Mail calls The location of the filming was the village of Velyka Novoselka in the Donetsk region.

“Verified” was unable to find the original viral image, but in August 2014, Ukrainian media actively told O repainting Monument to Lenin in Velikaya Novosyolka. It was alleged that this was done by an initiative group from among local residents. Initially, the inscription “Glory to Ukraine - glory to the heroes!” looked different on the pedestal, but judging by the photograph taken in February 2015, used in publications Associated Press, it subsequently acquired the same appearance as in the viral image allegedly from the Kursk region. As they write on local websites, the monument to Lenin is in Velikaya Novosyolka dismantled in September of the same year, as part of the implementation of the decommunization policy, now in its place there is a monument in honor of the founding of the village.

As for the monuments to Lenin on the territory of the Kursk region occupied by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in mid-August Russian And Ukrainian The media reported the demolition of such a monument in border Sudzha. Mayor of the city then stated, which cannot confirm this information. Journalists who visited the city on August 16 took several photographs of the monument - it was seriously damaged, but remained on the pedestal. August 19 “BBC Ukrainian Service” reportedthat the statue was eventually demolished - the corresponding photograph was sent to the editor by a source who was in the city at that time.