Strike on Kyiv symbol: Russia damages museum under 'Motherland' monument
Photo: Museum under 'Motherland' monument damaged by Russian strike (Getty Images)
In Kyiv, the Hall of Fame at the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War, located at the foot of the Motherland Monument, was damaged in a Russian attack. The site is recognized as a local landmark of science and technology, according to a statement by Ukraine’s Vice Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy and Minister of Culture, Tetiana Berezhna.
According to Berezhna, the attack is particularly cynical and symbolic. The aggressor state struck a place that preserves the memory of the fight against aggression in the 20th century, effectively repeating crimes in the 21st century.
What is known about the damage
Specialized teams, including museum experts, technical services, and police, are currently inspecting the site. They are assessing the damage and conducting a preliminary evaluation. The full scope of restoration work will be determined after the inspection is completed.
Aftermath of the attack on the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War (photo: Tetiana Berezhna)
The Ministry of Culture reminded that, since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, over 1,680 cultural heritage sites and thousands of cultural infrastructure objects have been damaged or destroyed. According to the minister, this is a deliberate destruction of Ukraine’s culture and historical memory.
Restoration and international support
Tetiana Berezhna emphasized that such actions require a unified response from the international community, particularly through increased sanctions against Russia and providing Ukraine with additional air defense capabilities. She also noted that Ukraine, together with its partners, is developing the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Fund as a transparent international mechanism for restoring and protecting damaged sites.
“We will restore what has been destroyed. We will preserve the memory of both the crimes of Nazism in the 20th century and the crimes of Russia today,” Berezhna stated.
Despite the damage, the museum continues to operate. The ministry also thanked the Armed Forces of Ukraine for protecting the country, its people, and its cultural heritage.
Earlier, on the night of February 3, Russia carried out a combined attack on Kyiv, using drones and missiles. Damage was reported in five districts of the capital, including residential buildings, fires, a gas station, a kindergarten, and vehicles. Three people were injured, and emergency services are working at the sites.
For a detailed account of the consequences of the night attack on Ukraine, read the RBC-Ukraine report.
