UA
Monument-bust to Ivan Fedorovich Khmara, who tragically died in Antarctica while rescuing expeditionary equipment
Full name of the monument :

Monument-bust to Ivan Fedorovich Khmara, who tragically died in Antarctica while rescuing expeditionary equipment

Region :
Poltava region
Address of the monument :
Khorol district, Vyshniaky village
Status :
Historical monument of local significance
Monument installation year (s) (if available) :
1969 р.
Time classification according to the installation epoch :
Soviet period (1922-1991)
Person/event, object the monument is dedicated to :
real person(s)
Gender :
male
Social status :
working class
Material :
stone
Type of art composition :
one-figure composition
Artistic approach :
figurative art
Main text, additional text (if available) :
Yes
Language(s) of the text :
Ukrainian
Narrative commemorates :
Popularization of the Soviet totalitarian system
The preservation state of the monument at the time of the research :
exists
Institution responsible for maintenance :
Khorol City Council
Institution’s website :
https://horol.com.ua/
Free text that contains data valid for interpretation :
In the 1950s, during the International Geophysical Year, the Soviet Union began scientific exploration of Antarctica. Ukrainians, such as tractor driver Ivan Khmara, sacrificed their lives to the study of Antarctica. A native of the village of Vyshniaky, Khorol district, Poltava region, 19-year-old I. Khmara, during his military service on Dixon Island, passed an extremely difficult competition among mechanics of all ages to participate in the first Soviet Antarctic expedition. He became a mechanic-driver of a sledge-tracked train. He went to Antarctica as a conscript. From the first days of January 1956, when the icebreakers approached Antarctica and began landing to establish the Soviet Mirny station, Ivan Khmara was there, where the work was in full swing. On 21 January 1956, the diesel-electric ship Ob was being unloaded near the construction site of Mirny station. Ivan Fedorovich Khmara and his partner were already helping the newcomers with unloading. While unloading the construction and assembly equipment, one of the tractors with a sledge attached suddenly stalled over the breach. The tractor driver jumped out of the cab. Ivan didn't have to take the risk, it wasn't his tractor, but he knew that all the equipment was really worth its weight in gold... Khmara managed to jump into the cab, started the engine and steered the tractor back to the ship. But then there was a crack of ice and... Ivan was gone... the depth of the gap in that place was 72 metres.