Who controls the past controls the present: Eastern Europe confronts the ghosts of the Red Army
Eastern European nations are actively removing or recontextualizing Soviet-era monuments as part of a broader struggle over historical memory. This trend has intensified following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, leading to diplomatic friction with Moscow.
Why it matters
It illustrates how historical symbols are being weaponized in modern geopolitical conflicts.
Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania have diverse experiences faced with the instrumentalization of the World War II legacy by the Kremlin
EUalive with PressOne July 27, 2026 08:40
Preserving Soviet monuments across the former Iron Curtain is not merely a matter of historical piety. In the shadow of Russia’s war against Ukraine, these statues, obelisks and military cemeteries have become active instruments in a struggle over memory. They anchor a narrative in which the Red Army appears solely as a liberating force, while any challenge to that version is branded as Russophobia or the falsification of history.
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