War memorials in Kharkiv

Kharkiv has been scarred by war. Here's a blurb from Wikipedia:

During World War II Kharkiv was the site of several military engagements. The city was captured by Nazi Germany and its military allies, recaptured by the Red Army, captured again twice by the Nazis and then finally liberated on August 23, 1943. Seventy percent of the city was destroyed and tens of thousands of the inhabitants were killed. It is mentioned that Kharkiv was the most populated city in the Soviet Union occupied by Nazis, since in the years preceding World War II Kiev was the smaller of the two by population.

That backdrop explain why there are many war memorials here. Aleksey and Angelina took us on a city tour today, and we saw some of them.

The bas-relief above is at a site out of the city center; that site also includes the statue below -- a woman, her clinched arm symbolizing patience:



It's traditional for couples getting married to visit this memorial on their wedding day and pay tribute to the soldiers who died. Aleksey and his wife, Irina, did that when they got married.

Solemn music plays from speakers located throughout the memorial. At the base of the woman's statue is an eternal flame:



There's another war momument, with another eternal flame, at a plaza across from city hall downtown. This memorial is near the history museum and several other sites.



In addition, here's a memorial I pass almost every day; it's located just off Freedom Square, near my house. I like the motion, and emotion, in this statue. People leave flowers and other gifts at the monuments.