The Ukrainian Phoenix
A National Symbol Rising from the Ruptured Shell of War
The Ukrainian Phoenix by Sergey Melnikoff (MFF) transforms the material remains of war into an image of rebirth.
Created in Odesa, Ukraine, 2023, in collaboration with Ukrainian metalworker Viktor Bielchyk, the sculpture is assembled from genuine fragments of artillery shells collected on Ukrainian territory. The figure of the Phoenix emerges from a ruptured shell, turning an image of violent destruction into one of ascent, endurance, and renewal.
Its form is deliberately charged with tension. The jagged metallic elements evoke feathers, yet preserve the harsh physical memory of war. The work does not conceal the origin of its material. On the contrary, it makes that origin inseparable from its meaning.
At the base of the sculpture lies a split artillery shell, torn open from within. From this broken mass, the bird rises upward. The gesture is direct and unmistakable: life wrested from devastation; form reclaimed from ruin.
The Ukrainian Phoenix is not an allegory invented at a distance. It is a sculptural image born from the material reality of war and transformed into a symbol of national resilience.
Materials & Technique
Fragments of artillery shells and military debris, assembled by hand using electric welding.
Selected elements are mounted on fine metal wires, creating a subtle kinetic effect.
The final stage involves electroplating the wings in 999.9 fine gold.
Key Details
- Created in Odesa, Ukraine, 2023.
- Developed by Sergey Melnikoff (MFF) in collaboration with Viktor Bielchyk.
- Made from genuine wartime fragments collected on Ukrainian territory.
- A Phoenix rising from a ruptured shell.
- Combines sculptural mass with delicate kinetic elements.
- Conceived as a symbol of rebirth, endurance, and national renewal.
Sergey Melnikoff and Viktor Bielchyk with The Ukrainian Phoenix. Odesa.
Dimensions: 109 × 81 cm (43 × 32 in)
Weight: approx. 35 kg
Provenance:
The Soul of Ukraine Foundation, Inc. (since creation).
Created by Sergey Melnikoff (MFF) in collaboration with Viktor Bielchyk, Odesa, Ukraine.
Work in progress. Odesa.
Essay
The Ukrainian Phoenix does not represent rebirth as a distant symbol. It emerges from the very material of destruction.
Formed from fragments of artillery shells, the work retains the physical memory of war within its structure. The ascent of the figure is not decorative, but consequential — a direct response to rupture.
Here, transformation is not metaphorical. It is literal: matter once used to destroy is reassembled into a form that affirms endurance.
The Phoenix does not rise above the ruins.
It rises from within them.