On 21 December, as part of the All-Ukrainian Forum for the Unity of National Communities «Ми різні, ми єдині та об’єднані» (“We are different, we are one and united”), a Ukrainian border post from Snake Island was ceremonially installed in Uzhhorod — a symbol of territorial integrity, resilience and the unity of the Ukrainian people.
The ceremony was attended by Roland Tseber, Chair of the Alliance of National Communities «Європейська Коаліція» and philanthropist; Petro Yatsenko of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence; Ukrainian service personnel from Zakarpattia; and representatives of the city authorities and of the national communities.
The border post from Snake Island was bought by Roland Tseber in 2024 at an auction held by the Ukrainian outlet «Українська правда» in support of Ukraine’s special forces.
“When I collected the post at the «Українська правда» office, the well-known journalist Mykhailo Tkach and the organisers asked me to make sure the border post would have a life beyond that day. The soldiers who liberated Snake Island said this post carries enormous meaning, because their brothers-in-arms died during that operation. For them it is a great symbol. I promised I would not hide the post at home. And I promised we would find a symbolic place and install it in the historic part of some region of Ukraine,” Tseber said.
Several options were considered — on Mount Hoverla, and on the border with Hungary. In the end Uzhhorod Castle was chosen: a site of historical and architectural significance that is open to the general public.
Petro Yatsenko of the Main Directorate of Intelligence noted that the border post is a unique and highly significant artefact, showing that all who have risen to defend their homeland can hold their ground — even a small patch of it, such as Snake Island — and can win.
“Everyone who visits Uzhhorod, everyone who visits this monument, will be able to see for themselves that Ukrainians — as a political community, as a political nation that includes representatives of every national community — are strong, effective and united. And no one can divide us,” Yatsenko believes.
He also reported that all the defenders of Snake Island have now been released from Russian captivity, thanks to the utmost efforts of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
Ihor Verner, Deputy Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience, called the site of the installation historic. Uzhhorod Castle, he said, is a place where many people will be able to see the border post and pay tribute to the heroism of the entire Ukrainian people and their determination to defend their country.
“This post is a witness to the blood shed in defence of every patch of our country. It is hard to imagine anything more symbolic. It has witnessed the valour and heroism of Ukrainian soldiers from day one. It is a symbol of our victory — of the fact that one day we will restore our country within its internationally recognised borders,” Verner added.
Alim Nasirov, founder of the charitable foundation «Хоробрі серця України» and deputy head of the NGO «Українсько-азербайджанське братерство добровольців», also noted that the border post from Snake Island is a memorial to the Ukrainian soldiers who defended Ukraine.
“That is what such monuments are for — so that we remember that Azerbaijanis, Chechens, Georgians and every other national community fought for this country. Every community has heroes who are no longer with us. We must honour them and remember,” Nasirov urged.
Olha Shumovska, Director of the Tivadar Lehoczky Transcarpathian Regional Museum, housed within Uzhhorod Castle, announced that under point 10, “Policy of Heroes”, of the President of Ukraine’s Internal Resilience Plan, a project called “A Single Route through Places of Memory” will be launched. One such route will run through the Transcarpathian museum.
“A museum is an important place for making known and documenting the real history that is happening today,” Shumovska believes.
The installed border post from Snake Island will therefore become an important part of that route, showing plainly the heroism of Ukrainian soldiers and the unity of the national communities. It stands for the shared memory of those who defended Ukraine, and it is a reminder that the strength of our state lies in mutual respect, support and the coming together of its different national communities. Every visitor to the museum will be able to grasp the significance of this historic event and pay their own tribute to those who defend, and continue to defend, our country.
