Since the end of August 2024, users of social networks have been distributing a photograph that states, a monument painted in blue and yellow colors is captured in one of the settlements taken by the Armed Forces during the operation in the Russian territory. We checked the reliability of such posts.

The viral picture captures a monument to Lenin, painted in the colors of the Ukrainian flag. At the same time, it is written in Ukrainian on the pedestal: “Glory to Ukraine is glory to the heroes!” With the signature that the picture was taken in the Kursk region, it was published by Telegram channels "Trukha⚡️Taulch | CourSk"(75,000 views at the time of writing this analysis) and"Typical Ukraine - News"(45,000), numerous users Facebook, X and other social networks. Then the photo was posted in the channel "Militarist”(97,000 views) with the comment“ APU continues to fight with monuments ”, without specifying, however, where exactly the picture was taken. The news also spread widely on Ukrainian -speaking And English -speaking Social -networks segments.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kursk region began on August 6. According to the President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky, by August 19, the Ukrainian army controlled About 100 settlements in the territory of more than 1200 square meters. km. In September, the Russian army I began to conduct In the region, large counterattacks, September 12 this information confirmed And Zelensky. On the same day the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation Reported On the liberation of ten settlements in the Kursk region.

In viral posts, it does not specify in which city or village there is a monument to Lenin, repainted in the colors of the Ukrainian flag. On the sculpture, pedestal and nearby buildings, the consequences of military operations are not visible, and there are no foliage on the trees on the background, which is uncharacteristic of the Kursk region in August-September.

Judging by the results of the reverse search by the image in Google, this photo was taken at least nine years ago. For example, a very similar picture in November 2015 has its own note illustrated Russian State Agency TASS, and author Articles On the website of the Ukrainian BBC service, he 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 place of shooting is the village of Velikaya Novoselka in the Donetsk region.

“Verified” failed to find the original of the viral picture, but in August 2014, Ukrainian media actively They told O repaint Monument to Lenin in the Great Novosolka. It was claimed that this was done by an initiative group from among local residents. Initially, the inscription "Glory to Ukraine is glory to the heroes!" on the pedestal looked different, but judging by the photographs used in February 2015, used in publications Associated Press, subsequently, she acquired the same appearance as in the viral picture supposedly from the Kursk region. As they write on local sites, a monument to Lenin in the Great Novosolka 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 of Lenin in the territory of the Kursk region occupied by the Armed Forces, then in mid -August Russian And Ukrainian The media reported the demolition of such a monument in the border Sudge. The mayor of the city then declaredthat cannot confirm this information. Journalists who visited the city took several pictures of the monument on August 16 - it was seriously damaged, but remained on the pedestal. August 19 "Ukrainian Service BBC" reportedthat the statue was nevertheless demolished-the corresponding photo to the editor was sent by a source, which at that time in the city at that time.