The Motherland Monument the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. In the 1950s, a plan circulated of building on the spot of the current statue twin monuments of Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin, nearly tall each. However, this did not go ahead. Instead, according to legend, in the 1970s, a shipload of Communist Party officials and Soviet sculptor Yevgeny Vuchetich looked across at the hills by the Lavra and decided the panorama needed a war memorial. Vuchetich had designed the other two most famous giant Soviet war memorials, "The Motherland Calls" in Volgograd and the Soviet soldier carrying German infant constructed after the war in East
Defender of the Motherland Medal is awarded by decree of the President of Ukraine. It is presented by the President, heads of central and local executive power bodies, leaders of military formations and foreign representatives. The medal may be awarded posthumously. The "Defender of the Motherland" Medal may be revoked by the President of Ukraine in cases of the recipient being convicted of a grave crime. Defender of the Motherland Medal The "Defender of the Motherland" Medal () is a commemorative medal awarded by Ukraine. It was established on 8 October 1999 by presidential decree № 1299. An award of the President of Ukraine, the