Exchanging one iron-fisted ruler for another, one Ukrainian city has decided to transform a statue of Vladimir Lenin into the figure of Darth Vader.

A recent law banning Communist symbols meant the monument to the Bolshevik leader and first Premier of the Soviet Union, which stood in Odessa for decades, had to be taken down.

Ukrainian artist Aleksander Milov assisted in altering the material conditions underlying the statue - fixing the emperor's head and altering Lenin's coattails into a cape.

He hopes the statue will act as a tourist attractio, and bring increased revenue to the seaside city.

Instead of radiating fear and oppression, Darth Vader will uncharacteristically be offering locals free wifi from a router hidden under his helmet.