“What could possibly justify such a monument?” you might ask. The Памятник бойцам Псковской дивизии ВДВ War memorial. It stands as a tribute in Saint Petersburg. It honors soldiers and officers of the 6th company of the 76th Pskov division. They perished 15 years earlier during an anti-terrorist operation in the Northern Caucasus.
The Памятник бойцам Псковской дивизии ВДВ War memorial commemorates these brave paratroopers. It stands in the Park of Military Glory. The park lies at the intersection of Badaev and John Reed streets.
This monument pays homage to the fallen soldiers. It is a place of remembrance. People come here to honor their courage. The sculpture is 11.5 meters tall. It is made of concrete with granite chips. The facades feature relief images. They depict orders. They also show names of fallen soldiers and the emblem of the Airborne Forces.
The monument’s authors are sculptor Nikolai Gordievsky and architect Natalia Tarasova. This Памятник бойцам Псковской дивизии ВДВ War memorial is not the only one dedicated to these heroes. Memorials also stand in Pskov and Moscow.
The soldiers it honors fought near Ulus-Kert in Chechnya. The battle took place between February 29 and March 1, 2000. Ninety paratroopers engaged a much larger force. Eighty-four of them died including 13 officers. Fifteen of the fallen were from Saint Petersburg.
The monument features the Airborne Forces motto: “No one but us”. It also bears inscriptions. One says: “Forgive us 6th company. Undimmed in time. The Immortal regiment of the Sky.” These words encapsulate the sacrifice made by these soldiers.
The Памятник бойцам Псковской дивизии ВДВ War memorial in Saint Petersburg serves as a reminder. It reminds us of the cost of freedom. It honors those who gave their lives.