War Museum in the Village of Korostiv
In the village of Korostiv, located in the Stryi district of the Lviv region, a 13-year-old student named Bohdan Kalyniv has founded a museum. He has gathered approximately 600 exhibits that reflect the realities of the full-scale war. The idea for the museum emerged two years ago, and the collection began when the boy was actively volunteering, making trench candles, fire starters, and herbal tea mixes for soldiers, a project he undertook with his grandfather's help.
Bohdan explains that he started telling the soldiers for whom he made the candles about his museum plan. 'They began sending exhibits by mail, passing them on through volunteers, or delivering them in person,' the boy notes.
The Museum's Collection
The museum displays war trophies, fragments of weaponry, and soldiers' personal items. Among the exhibits are:
- Patches and flags signed by military personnel
- Fragments of Iskander missiles
- Parts from Lancet and Gerbera drones
- A 234-kilogram fragment of a guided aerial bomb, delivered by soldiers from the Kharkiv region
Bohdan also describes other unique items in the collection: 'Here is a salt crystal from Soledar, artifacts from the Kursk region: a post box, a seal, newspapers. And also the watch of a Russian major, which still works.' Entry to the museum is by voluntary donation, and Bohdan Kalyniv himself conducts the tours.
He states that he wanted to show people what war truly looks like: 'What enemy metal brings death to our land, what our defenders' gear looks like, which units are fighting on the front lines. I wanted to convey that the war is not somewhere far away; it is right here.' This initiative provides a tangible, grassroots perspective on a conflict often seen through news headlines.
This museum has become not only a place to preserve the memory of the war but also an important educational project that helps people understand the conflict's consequences on Ukrainian soil. Bohdan Kalyniv's initiative is an example of how young people can actively participate in preserving historical memory and fostering public awareness of the harsh realities of the ongoing war. The museum created by the boy could become a significant site for studying history and supporting dialogue about peace and recovery in Ukraine.
As communities continue to respond to the ongoing conflict, similar initiatives are emerging globally, such as the recent opening of a museum in Berlin that focuses on the war in Ukraine. This first-of-its-kind museum showcases captured Russian military hardware, offering a broader context to the grassroots efforts like Bohdan's museum, highlighting the personal and collective impact of war.