At the municipal institution of the Lviv Regional Council “State Historical and Cultural Reserve ‘Tustan'” a symbolic memorial complex has been unveiled in honour of defenders whose lives were connected with Tustan and who died defending Ukraine.
According to the reserve’s director Andriy Kotlyarchuk, the idea to create a dedicated space of remembrance at Tustan emerged at the very start of the full-scale invasion. He explained that the contemporary community around the reserve had been shaped by the institution’s staff, the “Tu Stan!” festival team, volunteers, researchers and other people who invested their efforts in developing this place.
The concept of the memorial was devised by serviceman and deputy director of the reserve Ihor Punda, who went to the front from the first days of the full-scale war. After the death of one of the organisers of the “Tu Stan!” festival, the initiative was expanded to commemorate all the fallen members of the Tustan community.
The memorial complex is designed in the form of a bonfire. This image was chosen deliberately, as the bonfire is a traditional symbol of unity for youth organisations, expedition participants and the festival movement who, over the years, gathered in Tustan. One of the stone boulders bears the names and years of life of the soldiers whose memory has already been immortalised at this site.
The memorial’s structure has been designed so that, when needed, new names of fallen defenders connected with the reserve can be added.
“The memorial is conceived as a living place of remembrance. Here you can light a fire, spend time in silence, and remember the fallen Heroes. The structure allows for the possibility of adding new names,” noted the reserve’s director, Andriy Kotlyarchuk.
The architectural and artistic design of this symbolic place of remembrance was created by architect and designer Chrystyna Badzian. The memorial has become another element linking the historical heritage of Tustan with the contemporary history of Ukraine’s struggle.