In the Metallurgists Park named after V.A. Satsky in Zaporizhzhia, the "Tree of Memory" has been unveiled, dedicated to the fallen defenders of Ukraine.
This installation was created as part of the modern art festival Gogolfest. Pokrova, with the full financial support of the Metinvest Group.
The nine-meter tall iron tree symbolizes the deep-rooted memory of the steel warriors who sacrificed their lives in the fight for an independent and free Ukraine. Each branch features bells that chime melodiously with the slightest breeze, representing the voices of the soldiers. Soft light flows from the roots to the expansive steel crown, where the names of the fallen defenders are memorialized.
This project consists of multiple implementation stages, with a significant emphasis on greening. In favorable seasons, climbing plants are planned to be planted, which will intertwine with the steel elements, completing the memorial's image as a living tribute to the heroes.
Before the memorial's establishment, a series of public discussions and project presentations were held with the families of the fallen heroes, veteran organizations, as well as representatives from regional and municipal authorities, district administrations, and public organizations.
According to the project's initiator, military serviceman Dmytro Kostiymynskyi, the completed memorial complex will embody the plantings along the frontline, where shattered trees tower over the defenders. The steel "Tree of Memory" symbolizes the struggle and resilience of Ukrainians in their quest for freedom and will serve as the centerpiece of the composition.
"Hundreds of thousands of defenders are fighting for a free and democratic future for Ukraine at the front. Many of them, unfortunately, meet their last battle in fields, plantations, and devastated towns along the entire frontline. Preserving and passing on the memory of our heroes' deeds, ensuring that their voices do not fade away, and that these events are not forgotten is our duty. The 'Tree of Memory' memorial is an important step in honoring the fallen defenders in Ukrainian Zaporizhzhia, which owes its life to these Ukrainian defenders," said Oleksandr Myronenko, the operational director of the Metinvest Group.
