The “Tree of Memory,” the first installation of the “Planting” memorial complex dedicated to the fallen Ukrainian defenders, was unveiled in Zaporizhzhia as part of the contemporary “Gogolfest. Pokrova” arts festival, held from 18 to 20 October. Metinvest Group supported the idea of the festival’s creative team and fully funded the creation of the installation in Vitaliy Satskyi Metallurgists Park.
The opening ceremony was attended by Ivan Fedorov, Head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration; Regina Kharchenko, Acting Mayor of Zaporizhzhia; and the families of the fallen heroes, veterans, military personnel and local residents.
The nine-metre iron tree embodies the deeply rooted memory of the steel Ukrainian soldiers who died fighting for a free and independent Ukraine. Each branch of the tree bears bells that emit a melodious chime at the slightest blowing of the wind, symbolising the voices of the soldiers. The majesty of the installation is emphasised by the soft light that flows from the roots of the tree to its sprawling steel crown, where the names of the fallen defenders are immortalised.
This is a long-term project with several stages of implementation. Landscaping plays a special role: during the favourable growing season, climbing plants are to be planted to entwine the steel elements and complete the image of the memorial as a living memory of the heroes.
The installation of the memorial was preceded by a series of public discussions and project presentations to the families of the fallen heroes and veterans organisations, as well as to representatives of regional and city authorities, district administrations and non-governmental organisations.
According to the author of the idea, serviceman Dmytro Kostyumynskyi, the completed memorial complex will symbolise plantings on the front, where shattered trees tower over the defenders. The steel Tree of Memory is a symbol of the struggle and steadfastness of Ukrainians in their pursuit of freedom and will be the centrepiece of the composition.
Oleksandr Myronenko, Chief Operating Officer of Metinvest Group, said: “Hundreds of thousands of defenders are fighting for Ukraine’s free and democratic future on the front line. Regrettably, many of them face their final battle in the fields, plantings and shattered towns along the front line. It is our duty to preserve and pass on the memory of the feats of our heroes, to ensure that their voices are not silenced and these events are not forgotten. The Tree of Memory memorial is an important step towards honouring the memory of the fallen defenders in the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, which owes its existence to its Ukrainian defenders.”
To mark the Day of Remembrance of the Defenders of Ukraine, Metinvest Group created an online memorial dedicated to its fallen soldiers-employees. Over the past decade of war, more than 9,000 Metinvest employees have been mobilised and hundreds of them have sacrificed their lives defending Ukraine from the enemy.