Poltava asks Russia to restore a monument devoted to Poltava battle.
Poltava region appealed to the Embassy of Russia in Ukraine with a request to restore a common grave of
Russian warriors who died during Poltava battle in 1709.
This was told to journalists by the Governor of Poltava Valeriy Osadchev.
‘We appealed many times to the embassy requesting to make restoration of the common grave of Russian warriors who died during Poltava battle. However, there is no feedback.’, noted Mr. Asadchev.
According to him, during Soviet times there were preserved fuels and lubricants near
the monument, and granite, which is faced the monument with, is defected.
‘A cross is already bent there, mound and base have to be replaced. It is also necessary to make a stopwater. This should be made by Russians, as they will feel ashamed and inconvenient when coming to celebrate 300 anniversary of Poltava battle’, said Asadchev.
According to historical materials, immediately after Poltava battle completion, Peter I gave an order
to dig two graves: one for deceased officers, and other for Russian soldiers. There was a big mount raised over this grave.
According to the legend, Peter I installed the wooden cross on the top of the mound with his own
hands.
In 1894 at the scene of the grave there was built a monument in the form of the cross from
light grey granite with the height of 7,5 meters on the pedestal with the epitaph about the funeral
of 1 354 Russian soldiers and officers.
Since 1984 the granite cross has started to go down and in 1906 it became necessary to open the grave in order to stabilize the base and to build a new monument on it in the form of the burial mound with Saint Peter and Paul Church inside.
The building was completed in 1909 on the occasion of 200 anniversary of Poltava battle.
It was announced, that on the occasion of 300 anniversary of Poltava battle it is being planned to conduct an international scientific conference with the participation of the representatives from
Ukraine, Sweden, Germany, Russia, Belarus, to issue historical monograph, to construct new
hotels in order to accommodate several thousands of tourists in high-quality hotel rooms.
Poltava battle is a decisive episode of the Great Northern War, which took place on the 27th of June
(the 8th of July), 1709, in which Russian army of Peter the 1st and Swedish army of Charles XII &
troops of Hetman of Ukraine I. Mazepa took place.
