This is the moment a Soviet-era obelisk in the Latvian capital marking Russia's victory over the Nazis was toppled amid criticism of the country's invasion of Ukraine.

The nearly 80-metre (262-foot) obelisk was at the heart of a monument to commemorate the Red Army's victory over Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany.

However, as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Latvia has issued a decree stating that all objects glorifying totalitarian regimes are to be destroyed by November 15.

Authorities pulled down the Soviet-era obelisk in its capital Riga - despite criticism from Russia and protests from the Baltic country's ethnic Russian minority.

The Latvian State police said on August 25: ‘The situation at Uzvara Park on August 25 - the day passed peacefully, some violations were recorded.

‘Today, August 25, the situation during the dismantling of the obelisk in Victory Park can be assessed as calm and without significant incidents.

‘Some violations were recorded, which were quickly dealt with. In total, four people were detained for disobeying the lawful demands of police officers. Two of them publicly expressed slogans glorifying Russia and its aggression.

‘Administrative violation processes have been initiated, the possible violations of these people will be assessed. Also, a woman who had tried to climb over the fence delimiting Uzvara Park was arrested for disobeying the legal demands of the police.

‘Law enforcement immediately noticed her, ordered her to stop the violation, but the woman did not do it. The person has already been fined EUR 100. All violations are unrelated and the overall atmosphere is calm.

‘Also, during these days, 27 administrative violation processes and 3 departmental inspections for violations of drone piloting regulations have been started. In total, 20 drone pilots have committed violations these days.

‘The police and partner services are monitoring the situation both today and in the previous days in the territory of Uzvaras Park and generally assess it as calm with some incidents that were quickly prevented, preventing their further development.

‘As the remaining dismantling process continues, the State Police, in cooperation with the Riga Municipal Police and partner services, will continue to monitor public order and security and is on high alert to respond to any situation.'

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 in what the Kremlin is still calling a ‘special military operation'.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between February 24 and August 26, Russia had lost about 46,250 personnel, 1,936 tanks, 4,251 armoured combat vehicles, 1,040 artillery units, 272 multiple launch rocket systems, 148 air defence systems, 234 warplanes, 202 helicopters, 834 drones, 196 cruise missiles, 15 warships, 3,162 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 99 units of special equipment.

Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower, but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe's largest, was temporarily disconnected from Ukraine's national grid for the first time in almost 40 years of operation, as a result of shelling that cut the last remaining power line to the facility, according to the country's nuclear energy company, Energoatom.

Herman Halushchenko, Ukraine's Energy Minister, said the United Nations' nuclear watchdog could go to the plant in the ‘coming days'.

The White House has called on Russia to accept a demilitarized area around the plant after US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky talked on Wednesday, Ukraine's 31st independence day.

Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to increase the size of Russia's armed forces from 1.9 million to 2.04 million soldiers.