The memorial tetrapod is a symbolic element of the Memorial to the Heroes of Trubizh “Broken Bridges”. It is a massive concrete structure brought from the combat zone near Mariupol, embodying the link between generations of Ukrainian defenders. The tetrapod is part of the memorial complex and is complemented by a flagpole with the State Flag of Ukraine. Its installation was a tribute by today’s soldiers to the memory of the fighters for independence in the early 20th century.
The Heroes of Trubizh were Ukrainian Cossacks of the Army of the Ukrainian People’s Republic who in February 1919 fought an unequal battle against Bolshevik troops near the railway bridge over the Trubizh River. About 300 volunteers from the Voronkiv, Boryspil, Baryshivka and other companies held back the advance of a much larger enemy army. Despite heavy losses, the Ukrainian fighters thwarted a quick advance on Kyiv and set an example of self-sacrifice and devotion to the state. Their feat is considered one of the symbols of the struggle for Ukraine’s independence, similar to the Battle of Kruty.
