Lenin Statue Converted To Darth Vader In Ukraine

"New heroes replace old ones," one local says.

Welcome to the Dark Side, comrade!

A statue of Soviet founding father Vladimir Lenin in Odessa, Ukraine, has been transformed into Darth Vader, according to several reports.

A recent law banning communist symbols led to the makeover, NBC News reported. Ukrainian artist Aleksander Milov fitted the monument with the "Star Wars" villain's helmet and converted Lenin's coattails into DV's iconic cape. But the original bronze sculpting remains intact on the inside. May the Bolshevik be with you, DV.

Aleksander Milov appeared at the official unveiling ceremony on Friday.
Aleksander Milov appeared at the official unveiling ceremony on Friday.
VOLODYMYR SHUVAYEV via Getty Images

The artist also rigged the movie bad guy's helmet into a Wi-Fi hotspot, NBC noted.

"New heroes replace old ones, and this is how the world goes round," warehouse manager Semyon Horbunov told the BBC.

Costumed Storm Troopers and Darth Vader take in the unveiling of the converted statue.
Costumed Storm Troopers and Darth Vader take in the unveiling of the converted statue.
VOLODYMYR SHUVAYEV via Getty Images

Odessa's political scene was already overrun by DV. A candidate named Darth Vader is running for mayor in Sunday's election, Agence France-Presse reported. A candidate who assumed the same name threw his hat in the ring in both Odessa and Kiev mayoral campaigns last year.

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