On Wednesday, local authorities in Odesa began dismantling a monument to Russian empress Catherine II, who has a controversial reputation in Ukraine due to her support for Russian imperialism and the liquidation of two Ukrainian autonomous entities, Kyiv Independent reports.

Monument to Empress Catherine II in Odessa. In September, activists wrote “Demolish” on it with red paintPhoto: SOPA Images / Sipa Press / Profimedia

Local authorities agreed to dismantle the monument on November 30 after an online vote by the city’s residents, who approved the decision in early November.

The monument, first erected in 1900, when Odesa was part of the Russian Empire, and dismantled by the Bolsheviks in 1920, was returned by the city council in 2007.

Catherine II, who ruled from 1762 to 1796, has a controversial reputation in Ukraine because she promoted Russian imperialism and abolished two autonomous Ukrainian entities, the Zaporizhzhya Sich and the Hetmanship.

For years, pro-Ukrainian activists advocated its dismantling, while pro-Russian activists opposed it.

Odesa Mayor Gennadiy Trukhanov, a former deputy from former President Viktor Yanukovych’s Party of Regions, had pro-Russian rhetoric before the war, but changed his rhetoric after the February 24 invasion.

The Odesa City Council reported that the monument will be handed over to the Odesa Art Museum.