Ukraine mounts coat of arms on Soviet-era Motherland Monument

Workers installed Ukraine’s national trident on an iconic monument depicting the Motherland in Kyiv on Sunday (August 6), replacing old Soviet symbols in one of the most visible examples of breaking away from the past and Moscow’s influence. The monument, a 62-metre-tall (200-foot) steel statue of a female warrior, was built in 1981 on top of a hill on the right bank of the Dnipro River. Gazing sternly east, the figure holds a 16-metre (52-foot) sword in her right hand and an eight-metre-long shield in her left. Originally, the shield bore the Soviet Union’s coat of arms - a crossed hammer and sickle surrounded by ears of wheat. The Sun newspaper brings you the latest breaking news videos and explainers from the UK and around the world Become a Sun Subscriber and hit the bell to be the first to know Read The Sun: Like The Sun on Facebook: Follow The Sun on Twitter: Subscribe to The Sun on Snapchat: #ukraine #russia #war