Russia Sets up Monuments to War Heroes in Syria

Even as Eastern European nations have dismantled monuments of Soviet Era heroes since the Ukraine war, Russia on Thursday inaugurated Memorials to Heroes of Russia -Major General Valery Asapov and Senior Lieutenant Aleksandr Prokhorenko in the Khmeimim airbase in Syria.

Russian defense ministry confirmed today that the memorials had been set up on the Russian Khmeimim airbase in Syria.

Commander of the Russian Grouping in Syria Colonel General Andrey Serdyukov, Khmeimim base’s personnel, and the Armed Forces of Syria representatives took part in the opening ceremony.

The monuments are made after the appearance of Heroes of Russia Major General Valery Asapov’s and Senior Lieutenant Aleksandr Prokhorenko, set up upon pedestals of about 3 meters high.

The commemoration ceremony ended with a minute of silence to honour the Russian servicemen killed in action, and solemn march. At the end of the commemoration ceremony, the base’s personnel laid flowers to the Heroes Memorials.

Meanwhile, traces of the Soviet past are disappearing from countries in Europe – particularly Poland and the Baltic states – as part of their efforts to distance themselves from Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.