Attack on the National Museum of the History of Ukraine
In the early hours of February 3, Russian forces struck the Hall of Fame at the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War, located beneath the 'Motherland' monument. Vice Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy and Minister of Culture, Tetiana Berezhna, reported the attack. The museum sustained damage but continues to operate despite the circumstances. Specialized experts, technical services, and police are already working on the museum grounds. This museum is a central institution for commemorating Ukraine's role in the defeat of Nazi Germany.
Affected Cities and Consequences of the Strikes
Alongside the museum strike, other Ukrainian cities came under hostile fire that night, including:
- Kyiv
- Kyiv Oblast
- Dnipro
- Sumy
- Konotop
Due to massive shelling of energy infrastructure, thousands of residents in Kharkiv will be left without heating. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov also reported damage to the city's heating supply system. In Konotop, attacks damaged a children's educational institution, private homes, and other objects.
Tetiana Berezhna stated that this assault is 'both symbolic and cynical,' as the aggressor strikes a site commemorating the struggle against 20th-century aggression.
According to her, Ukraine intends to restore what was destroyed and preserve the memory not only of the crimes of Nazism but also of Russia's crimes in the modern era. Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, over 1,680 cultural heritage monuments and thousands of cultural infrastructure objects have been damaged or destroyed. This systematic targeting of cultural sites is a hallmark of Russia's war strategy.
The attack on this museum, a symbol of remembrance for World War II, underscores not only Russia's aggressive policy but also the severe consequences for Ukraine's cultural heritage. Amid constant attacks, Ukrainian authorities continue efforts to preserve historical memory and restore destroyed objects, a crucial aspect of national identity. When cultural landmarks become targets, their restoration takes on special significance for maintaining public morale and safeguarding the historical memory of the war.