Make It To Ukraine Quickly And You Just Might Bag A Piece Of Toppled Lenin


The world recently witnessed Ukrainians bringing down a huge statue of Lenin in Kharkiv. Now small pieces of the statue are trickling into the hands of “sellers,” and if you hurry, you might be able to bag a piece of history, which no one in the vicinity is interested in owning.

The majority of the massive statue of Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin that a crowd in Kharkiv toppled on September 28 still lays where it landed in the city’s central Freedom Square, and why wouldn’t it?

Apart from the fact that the once-revered leader in Russia isn’t liked in Ukraine, the statue — reputed to be the largest in Ukraine — is 8.5 meters tall, weighs thousands of kilograms, and is near impossible to move without cutting it down. Though Ukraine didn’t relegate the fallen Lenin statue to the same fate Marilyn Monroe’s figurine had to endure, locals have now resorted to chopping off various body parts and attempting to sell them whichever way they can.

The Lenin's Nose Broke-Off When The Statute Toppled
The Lenin’s Nose Broke-Off When The Statute Toppled

Ukrainians have begun by offering a nose here, an ear there, plus hints that there are more if collectors want them. Though there are two ears, one seller in Kharkiv recently, and somewhat proudly, showed the lone Lenin statue’s nose — 36 centimeters wide, 36 centimeters long, and about 25 centimeters high — to RFE/RL’s Ukraine Service and other media in the city.

However, these sellers are apparently attempting to rally up support for their troops, or as they are referred, pro-Russian separatists, reported The Guardian. Wearing a ski mask and identifying himself only as “Oleksiy,” he said he was ready to sell the nose to anyone who will make a sizable contribution to Ukrainian volunteers fighting pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, reported Radio Svoboda.

Speaking about his tradable treasure, Oleksiy said, “If there is anyone who says, ‘I am ready, let’s say, to provide a battalion of soldiers with winter underwear and uniforms,’ then we will give him [the nose]. That is, if no one says, better yet, that he’s ready to provide two battalions with the things I have mentioned.”

Ukrainians Defied Govt. Authorities To Bring Down Lenin's Statute In Freedom Square
Ukrainians Defied Govt. Authorities To Bring Down Lenin’s Statute In Freedom Square

Interestingly, Oleksiy and his companions didn’t have to saw off the nose. When the Lenin statute hit the ground, the nose area hit first and the resulting fracture broke apart the nose, including bridge, both nostrils, and mustache beneath.

Apart from the solitary nose, the ears too are being sold on Facebook by another supporter.

Speaking about the item and the need, the seller said, “The money collected will go toward a thermal camera for the Kharkiv-1 battalion. Make me an offer. The ear weighs close to 35 kilograms. You can hear Donbas through it.”

Despite such open claims, whether those selling pieces of Lenin can do so without fear of prosecution is an open question.

[Image Credit | EPA]

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