Slovakia unveils monument to Soviet Marshal Ivan Konev

A new monument dedicated to Soviet Marshal Ivan Konev has been unveiled in Kružlová, Slovakia, near the Dukla Pass. The initiative was led by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who had previously discussed the project with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a meeting in Moscow in May 2025.

The monument is located in the ‘Valley of Death,’ an area significant for the Carpathian-Dukla offensive during World War II. The unveiling ceremony was attended by several officials, including Slovak Minister of Agriculture Richard Takáč, MEP Ľuboš Blaha, and the Russian Ambassador to Slovakia, Sergey Andreev.

The installation has drawn sharp criticism from political figures in the Czech Republic. Former Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala described the monument as ‘another gift to the Kremlin,’ noting that Konev played a role in the violent suppression of the 1956 Hungarian Uprising while commanding the Warsaw Pact forces. Critics argue that while World War II history is important, honoring figures associated with later Soviet repression is inappropriate.