Monument to the Victims of Smolensk Tragedy 2010

On April 10, 2010, a Polish Air Force plane carrying 96 people, including President Lech Kaczyński, crashed near Smolensk, Russia. They were flying to Russia on a private visit as part of a Polish delegation for the mourning events on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Katyn massacre. The crash occurred while attempting to land in thick fog. Investigations revealed no technical faults with the aircraft but blamed the crew for not following proper procedures in the poor weather conditions. Some conspiracy theories suggest the plane was intentionally brought down, but official investigations found no evidence to support these claims.

The dimensions of the monument measure 14.5 meters by 7.5 meters. It was artistically crafted by Jerzy Kalina, a renowned sculptor. The monument takes the shape of a solid block, elegantly adorned with black granite. Its design draws inspiration from elements such as an airplane gangway, a plane stabilizer, and a catafalque.

Comprising of both an underground and above-ground section, the monument carries profound symbolism. The underground part extends 2 meters deep, symbolizing the harrowing "death pits" in Katyn, and it features a captivating glass ceiling. Above ground, the monument stands at a height of 6 meters.

On one side of the monument, the names of the 96 victims of the tragedy are listed, while on the other side, there is an inscription in Polish: 'In memory of the victims of the air crash near Smolensk on 10.04.2010'.

The monument was officially unveiled on April 10, 2018, marking the eighth anniversary of the catastrophe. The ceremony was attended by representatives of the affected families, including Jarosław Kaczyński, Marta Kaczyńska and her daughters, Ewa Kochanowska, Andrzej Melak, and Małgorzata Wassermann. Prominent figures from the state, including President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, as well as Marshals of the Sejm Marek Kuchciński and Senate Stanisław Karczewski, Members of Parliament, and clergy, also attended the event. Cardinal Kazimierz Nycz, in the presence of Prelate Bogdan Bartold, the parish priest of Saint John the Baptist Archcathedral, conducted the dedication of the monument. Commemorative speeches were given by Jarosław Kaczyński, the brother of President Lech Kaczyński, and President Andrzej Duda.

According to a survey commissioned by the City Hall in November 2017, Warsaw residents aged 15 and over - 71% of them negatively assessed the idea of locating a monument dedicated to the victims of the plane crash near Smolensk at Piłsudski Square. On October 14, 2023, an unknown person climbed onto the monument and threatened to blow himself up. The police later managed to persuade him to come down, after which he was detained.