Soviet emblem on tallest statue in Ukraine replaced with trident

The operation to put the trident in place of the Soviet emblem on the 62-metre-tall steel figure of a woman, known as the Fatherland Mother, began last month, as Ukraine purges its public areas of reminders of Russian and Soviet rule. The silvery monument stands high on the bank of the Dnieper River, brandishing a sword and shield. The tallest monument in Ukraine measuring 102 metres including its base, it was erected in 1981 as a memorial to Soviet victory in World War II. The total cost of replacing the hammer and sickle with the trident is reported as $758,000, paid for by donations and sponsorship rather than state funds. A survey by the culture ministry last year found that 85 percent of Ukrainians backed removing the hammer and sickle. Is Ukraine erasing its roots and accepting western culture ?