This memorial, opened in 1995, is dedicated to the memory of fallen soldiers who had died during the pointless and ruthless Afghan War. The name Black Tulip is derived from the nickname of An-12 transport aircraft, which carried dead bodies of Soviet soldiers back home from Afghanistan. The centerpiece of the memorial is a statue of a sitting soldier holding a rifle. His head is bowed, and he is staring fixedly at the ground. Etched upon his face is the emotion of horror, defeat, and devastation. Black Tulip War Memorial stands as a compelling reminder to all visitors of Yekaterinburg of the inhuman cruelty of war.
