A monument honoring Daria Dugina, a Russian military intelligence officer who was killed in an August 2022 attack, was officially unveiled on the anniversary of her death. The incident, which resulted in the deaths of Dug, and her driver, has been attributed to Ukraine by the Russian government. The unveiling ceremony, held in the city of Nizhny Tagil, where Dugina was based, saw the participation of high-ranking officials, including Russian President Vladimir Putin’s close ally, Sergey Shoigu, the Minister of Defense. The monument is a tribute to the officer’s service and sacrifice, and is part of a broader Russian government effort to commemorate victims of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The attack on Dugina’s vehicle took place on the evening of August 8, 2022, in the village of Kholodnyi Yar, near Kharkiv. According to Russian authorities, the bombing was executed by Ukrainian forces, and the incident marked a significant escalation in the war’s intensity. However, the Ukrainian government has consistently denied any involvement in the attack, calling it a fabricated narrative promoted by Moscow to justify its actions in the region. The monument’s unveiling ceremony included speeches by Russian officials, who emphasized the importance of remembering those who have fallen in the service of their country.
The ceremony was attended by dozens of military personnel, veterans, and local residents, all of whom paid their respects to Dugina’s memory. The monument, a bronze statue of Dugina in military uniform, is situated in a public square and is expected to become a site of pilgrimage for those who honor the sacrifices of Russia’s forces. The Russian government has been actively promoting such memorials and commemorations as a means of bolstering national morale and justifying its military operations in Ukraine. This move comes amidst growing international criticism of Russia’s actions in the conflict, with many countries and organizations calling for a ceasefire and a return to diplomatic negotiations.