The tank on Peremohy Square in Zhytomyr is one of those objects that shaped the recognizable image of the city for a long time. We are talking about the T-34-85 combat vehicle, which stood for decades on a high granite pedestal in the center of the square. It was not just a piece of machinery, but a monument — a symbol of victory in World War II and the liberation of Zhytomyr from Nazi troops.
The monument was erected in 1965, on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the victory. It was then that Peremohy Square acquired the significance of a memorial space. The author of the project was the architect A. Hrynchenko, who envisioned placing the tank on a massive stone pedestal with a memorial plaque.
There was an inscription on the pedestal: "To Soviet soldiers from the people of Zhytomyr. Erected to mark the 20th anniversary of the Victory..." — a typical memorial text for that time, which emphasized the ideological function of the object.
Interestingly, the tank itself did not take part in the battles for Zhytomyr — it was installed precisely as a symbol rather than as a historical artifact from a specific battle site.
What changed
In 2022, the history of this landmark changed dramatically. Against the backdrop of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, the city authorities decided to remove the tank from the central square.
Early in the morning on May 5, 2022, it was removed from the pedestal using special equipment and relocated to the Monument of Eternal Glory on Chudnivska Street. The date and time were not announced in advance for security reasons to avoid crowd gatherings. Mayor Serhiy Sukhomlyn explained that the memory of those who died in World War II would be honored near the monument every year on May 8. At the same time, the name of Peremohy Square was preserved, and the square itself is planned to be overhauled after the war.
Today, the tank still stands near the Monument of Eternal Glory. Peremohy Square has lost its main element, and the tank itself has changed context: from a central symbol of the city, it has become part of a different memorial space.
Where it was and where it is now
Previously: Peremohy Square (Maidan) is the central transport and symbolic point of the city.
Now: near the Monument of Eternal Glory on Chudnivska Street, in the Pavlykivka district.
What is worth knowing
- the tank was one of the most famous symbols of Zhytomyr;
- installed in 1965 as a memorial;
- had no direct connection to the battles for the city;
- in May 2022, it was removed from the pedestal and moved to the Monument of Eternal Glory.
The history of the tank on Peremohy Square is an example of how urban space changes along with society. Once a symbol of one era, today it is part of the rethinking of history. That is why this object is interesting not only as a monument, but as a marker of the changes the city is experiencing.
