Kharkiv region unveils Jesus Christ sculpture made from 20,000 Russian shell fragments
Photo: Bohodukhiv Regional Military Administration
A landmark event unfolded in Bohodukhiv at the Alley of Glory with the unveiling of a unique sculpture of Jesus Christ, ingeniously crafted from fragments of Russian shells. This artwork is a powerful symbol of resilience and faith, serving as a poignant reminder of the price Ukrainians pay for their freedom.
Bogodukhiv district council reported this.
The Cross of Peace was created in the fall of 2024 in Odesa by American artist of Ukrainian origin Serhii Melnikof, in collaboration with metal craftsman Viktor Bielchyk.
The installation features a gold-plated sculpture of Jesus Christ, constructed from 20,000 artillery mines and shells gathered in the Zolochiv and Derhachiv communities of the Kharkiv region. These materials have been transformed into a symbol of spiritual power. The Jesus sculpture is coated with a layer of pure gold, with a purity of 999.9, applied using a galvanic method, and the entire piece weighs approximately one ton.
Photo: Bohodukhiv Regional Military Administration
The Cross of Peace embodied the hope, sorrow and indomitability of the people experiencing war trials.
The artists made a cross from 15 meters of pipes that emergency services workers in Kharkiv and Odesa dismantled from houses damaged by Russian rocket attacks.
Photo: Bohodukhiv Regional Military Administration
The cross is secured to an anti-tank hedgehog crafted from rails originally from the Kharkiv tram depot. These rails were produced at the Azovstal plant in Mariupol following World War II.
Photo: Bohodukhiv Regional Military Administration
"The greatest value of this work is not in its gold coating, but in the uniqueness of the manufacturing technology. Not a single fragment that made up the figure of Christ was mechanically altered. Each fragment retains its authentic form, which gives the sculpture a special depth and truthfulness. Melnikoff used the image of Christ, made of fragments of ammunition to emphasize the significance of every human life, which can so easily be destroyed by war," the report says.
By mid-April 2025, the installation will be presented in 14 settlements of Ukraine and on Mount Hoverla. After that, it will "travel" to the cities of Europe.
Photo: Bohodukhiv Regional Military Administration
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It should be noted that the installation Cross of Peace was presented in Ivano-Frankivsk, created from 20 thousand fragments of Russian shells.
