Memorial - Chisinau Eternity Memorial Complex

The Victory Memorial in Chișinău was inaugurated on 9 May 1975 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Soviet victory in World War II. The complex is dedicated to Soviet soldiers who fell during the Second Jassy–Kishinev Offensive in August 1944, which dealt a decisive blow to Axis forces, leading to Romania’s surrender and rapid switch of allegiance to the Allies. The offensive also resulted in Soviet control over Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina, paving the way for Moldova’s incorporation into the USSR and Romania’s subsequent transition into a socialist state under Soviet influence. At its center stands a 25-meter-high pyramid formed by five stylized bayonets, symbolizing the five years of war, beneath which burns an eternal flame.The memorial includes six stone stelae positioned along its north-western section, each representing key milestones of the war, from its outbreak to the final victory. At the base of the stelae lie 155 marble slabs engraved with the names of fallen soldiers. The site is paved with white stone, and its central space is marked by a large five-pointed star encircling the flame. During the Soviet period the complex was commonly referred to as the “Victory Memorial.” The site underwent major restoration between April and August 2006, overseen by sculptor S.A. Ganenko and architect S.M. Shoyhet. The works were financed with approximately 35 million lei, including 22 million from national and municipal budgets, with the remainder covered by local and foreign contributors. The renewed complex was inaugurated on 24 August 2006, the 62nd anniversary of the offensive that led to the liberation of Moldova from "German-Romanian occupation" (as one Moldovan-based tour operator puts it, interestingly). Wreath-laying ceremonies are regularly held on national holidays. The memorial has also been commemorated abroad: in 2016, the Central Bank of Russia issued a five-ruble coin depicting the monument as part of its series honoring cities liberated by Soviet forces.