A monument to Alexei Balabanov will be opened in Yekaterinburg, the first of its kind in Russia.

      At the opening ceremony of the monument, Nikita Mikhalkov, Vladimir Medinsky, and other famous personalities were present. A solemn opening of the first monument in Russia dedicated to director Alexei Balabanov will soon take place in Yekaterinburg. The sculptural composition is located near the Palace of Youth on Lenin Avenue. Famous personalities attended the ceremony: film director Nikita Mikhalkov, presidential aide and chairman of the Russian Military Historical Society Vladimir Medinsky, and presidential envoy in the Ural Federal District Artem Zhoga. Also present were the head of Yekaterinburg Alexei Orlov, producer of all Balabanov's films Sergey Selyanov, family members of the director — his first wife Irina Balabanova and eldest son Fedor, actors Alexei Chadov and Leonid Bichevin, who starred in Balabanov's films. The monument is a bronze cargo tram measuring 9.6 meters in length, 3.9 meters in height, and weighing 10.5 tons. Inside the tram is a figure of Alexei Balabanov and many symbolic details: the sweater of Danila Bagrov, posters of the director's films, and posters of Sverdlovsk rock bands "Nautilus Pompilius," "Meaningful Hallucinations," "Chaif," "Agatha Christie." The author of the sculpture is St. Petersburg sculptor Meiram Baymukhanov. During his speech, Nikita Mikhalkov noted the uniqueness of Balabanov's style: "There are masters, professionals who know how to frame a shot, who can work with actors. They are great artists, their films live long, and working with them is a joy. And there are self-taught talents. How does he work? Who knows. I acted in his films — closed, not revealing, always observing." The director emphasized that Balabanov was able to create an atmosphere that turned into a statement.

      Initially, the opening was planned for May 18 — the day of Balabanov's death. However, the date was moved to June 18 to coincide the ceremony with the Year of Ural Rock and the 40th anniversary of the Sverdlovsk Rock Club, which is connected to the director's work.

      More news about the event:

      The first monument to Alexei Balabanov in Russia will be opened in Yekaterinburg. The opening ceremony of the monument was attended by Nikita Mikhalkov, Vladimir Medinsky, and other famous personalities. A solemn opening of the first monument in Russia dedicated to director Alexei Balabanov will soon take place in Yekaterinburg. 18:44 16.06.2026 Real Time - Kazan

      In Yekaterinburg, a monument to director Alexei Balabanov was opened. The monument to director Alexei Balabanov was opened in Yekaterinburg in the square near the Palace of Youth. 17:23 16.06.2026 Business Online - Kazan

      Pantykin suggested how Balabanov would have reacted to the monument in Yekaterinburg. Pantykin's opinion on Balabanov's possible attitude towards the monument. Sculptor Pantykin expressed his assumption about how director Balabanov might have reacted to the monument installed in Yekaterinburg. 16:23 16.06.2026 Real Time - Kazan

      News from neighboring regions on the topic:

      The monument to Balabanov was opened in Yekaterinburg with the participation of Mikhalkov and Medinsky. In Yekaterinburg, the first monument in Russia to director Alexei Balabanov was solemnly opened. 23:25 16.06.2026 IA All News - Nizhny Tagil

      The monument to Alexei Balabanov was opened in Yekaterinburg. His films have become part of the cultural code of Russians, and his portrait is now printed in the new unified school textbook on social studies. 23:11 16.06.2026 GTRK Ural - Yekaterinburg

      In Yekaterinburg, a monument to director Alexei Balabanov was opened. A new point of attraction has appeared near the Palace of Youth, not far from the Balabanov family home and the school where the future director studied. 22:01 16.06.2026 Culture-Ural.RF - Yekaterinburg

      "He expressed himself in the language given to him by God." A photo report from the opening of the monument to cult director Alexei Balabanov. The cultural elite of the country gathered today in Yekaterinburg, his homeland. On June 16, the cultural elite of the country gathered in Yekaterinburg. 20:54 16.06.2026 29.Ru - Arkhangelsk

      "Expressed himself in the language given to him by God." A photo report from the opening of the monument to cult director Alexei Balabanov. The cultural elite of the country gathered today in Yekaterinburg, his homeland. On June 16, the cultural elite of the country gathered in Yekaterinburg. 19:47 16.06.2026 76.Ru - Yaroslavl

      "Expressed himself in the language given to him by God." A photo report from the opening of the monument to cult director Alexei Balabanov. The cultural elite of the country gathered today in Yekaterinburg, his homeland. On June 16, the cultural elite of the country gathered in Yekaterinburg. 19:44 16.06.2026 161.Ru - Rostov-on-Don

      Close friends and colleagues shared what Alexei Balabanov was like. ...at the press conference after the opening of the monument to the famous director. Participants of the opening ceremony of the monument to Alexei Balabanov met with journalists and talked about the life and work of the director. 21:21 16.06.2026 Administration of Yekaterinburg - Yekaterinburg

      A monument to Alexei Balabanov was installed in Yekaterinburg. Photo: RIA Novosti/Irina Semyonova. A monument to director Alexei Balabanov was opened near the Palace of Youth in Yekaterinburg. 17:07 16.06.2026 M24.Ru - Moscow

      A monument to film director Alexei Balabanov was installed in Yekaterinburg. In Yekaterinburg, in the square near the Palace of Youth, where the famous Russian director was born, a solemn opening of the monument to Alexei Balabanov took place. 16:47 16.06.2026 Rakurs 32 - Bryansk

      "Welcome back, Alyosha!" The first monument in Russia to director Alexei Balabanov was opened in Yekaterinburg. A solemn opening of the first monument in Russia to director Alexei Balabanov took place in Yekaterinburg. 18:35 16.06.2026 Nakanuye.Ru - Yekaterinburg

      In Yekaterinburg, a monument to Balabanov was installed, conceived by a sculptor from Omsk. Author: Alexandra Mikhailovskaya. The original monument to the cult director was conceived and created by sculptor Meiram Baymukhanov from Omsk. 20:31 16.06.2026 IA Omsk Here - Omsk

      Nikita Mikhalkov, Alexei Chadov, and others came to the opening of the monument to Balabanov in Yekaterinburg. Photo: Telegram channel of the head of Yekaterinburg Alexei Orlov. In the small homeland of Alexei Balabanov, the director's memory was honored: the opening of the monument was attended by prominent cultural figures and government representatives. 15:52 16.06.2026 47 News - Leningrad Region

      In the capital of the Urals, a monument to Alexei Balabanov was opened. In the Ural capital, a solemn ceremony of opening a monument to the legendary Ural film director Alexei Balabanov took place. 17:46 16.06.2026 City Duma - Yekaterinburg

      The first monument to Alexei Balabanov in Russia was opened in Yekaterinburg. The first monument to the outstanding director, screenwriter, and native of Sverdlovsk Alexei Balabanov was solemnly opened on June 16 in Yekaterinburg near the Palace of Youth. 17:32 16.06.2026 Governor of Sverdlovsk Region - Yekaterinburg

      An unusual monument to Alexei Balabanov appeared in Yekaterinburg. The sculptural composition is installed near the Palace of Youth, next to the house where he lived and the school he attended. 15:21 16.06.2026 Svoikirovsky.rf - Kirov

      Yekaterinburg immortalized Balabanov's memory: a tram with the director at the Palace of Youth. In the very heart of Yekaterinburg, you can now see a monument to the outstanding director Alexei Balabanov. 17:16 16.06.2026 Public Chamber - Yekaterinburg

      The first monument to Alexei Balabanov in Russia was opened in Yekater