Overview
- DNR head Denis Pushilin announced the Volnovakha monument opening and laid flowers with Sergey Kiriyenko and presidential envoy Artem Zhoga.
- The memorial stands where the Sparta battalion commander was killed on March 5, 2022 while covering the evacuation of civilians.
- The sculpture depicts Zhoga in full gear shielding civilians, with a relief wall bearing the inscription “Помним. Гордимся. Чтим.” and his Hero of Russia and Hero of DNR decorations.
- Pushilin said the adjacent area will be landscaped into a small square to facilitate family and group visits to honor his memory.
- A day earlier, a memorial sign to Zhoga was unveiled on Novy Urengoy’s Alley of Courage with local officials, cadets, and SVO veterans participating, aligning with Yamal’s 2025 Year of Heroes initiative.