Vandalism targets Marshal Konev monument in Kružlová

The monument dedicated to Soviet Marshal Ivan Stepanovich Konev in the Valley of Death, located near Kružlová, Slovakia, has been vandalized. The damage includes a broken memorial plaque and the base of the statue being defaced with red paint and the Hungarian word ‘gyilkos’, meaning ‘murderer’.

This marks the second incident involving the statue since its unveiling in early October. The sculptor, Slavomír Gibej, and the Slovak Association of Anti-Fascist Fighters (SZPB) have filed criminal complaints regarding the act. Gibej noted that security footage showed a vehicle with Hungarian license plates at the scene. He emphasized that the monument commemorates the 1944 Carpathian-Dukla Operation and the sacrifices of Soviet and Czechoslovak soldiers, rather than serving as a celebration of Konev's entire career.

The SZPB condemned the attack, stating that political or ideological differences should not justify physical attacks on historical monuments and called for increased security for military memorials.