Russians destroy National Chornobyl Museum in Kyiv, museums, churches, theatre and universities also damaged – photos
Buildings housing a theatre, a philharmonic hall, two museums, a library, universities, a church, a monastery and architectural landmarks were damaged in Kyiv due to a Russian attack on the night of 23-24 May.
Source: Ukrainska Pravda.Zhyttia (Life)
Details: Culture Minister Tetiana Berezhna said that the night of 24 May saw the largest number of cultural institutions damaged in Kyiv since the start of the full-scale war.
The National Philharmonic of Ukraine, the National Music Academy of Ukraine, the Yaroslav Mudryi National Library of Ukraine, the Ukrainian House and numerous architectural landmarks sustained damage.
Quote from Berezhna: "Experts and relevant services are currently documenting all the consequences of the attack and assessing the scale of the destruction. Russia systematically targets culture and spaces that shape Ukrainian identity. They are trying to destroy our memory. But Ukrainian culture has endured before and will endure now."
Details: A missile strike destroyed a building next to the Dominican Monastery and the St Thomas Aquinas Institute of Religious Studies in Kyiv, Fr Jaroslaw Krawiec reported.
Quote from Krawiec: "In our monastery, many windows and doors were shattered and damaged. Our cells – the rooms where we live – as well as the chapel, the auditorium, and the lecture halls of the Institute of St Thomas Aquinas were affected. Thanks be to God, none of the brothers nor our guests were harmed – for which we are deeply grateful. Unfortunately, some of our neighbors were injured by shrapnel.
It was one of the worst nights in our area since the beginning of this war. We commend ourselves to your prayers…"
Details: Tymofii Mylovanov, President of the private Kyiv School of Economics (KSE), reported that windows and doors were blown out in two of the university's main buildings. One employee was injured in the attack, but there were no fatalities.
The building of the Educational and Scientific Institute of Public Administration and Civil Service of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv was also damaged in the attack, said acting rector Valerii Kopiika.
The Kyiv One Nation's Museum on Poshtova Square reported that the Church of the Nativity of Christ in the Podilskyi district was damaged by the blast wave and falling debris from Russian aerial assets.
The attack also damaged the nationally significant architectural landmark known as the Postal Station. Museum staff said that windows in the building were shattered.
In the same district, the building of the Kyiv Municipal Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre (Kyiv Opera) sustained damage.
The Ministry of Culture reported that Russian forces damaged the National Art Museum of Ukraine, one of the oldest museums in the country.
Neither the museum staff nor its collection, which includes tens of thousands of works of Ukrainian art ranging from icons and classical paintings to contemporary works, was affected.
Museum employees are currently inspecting the building, which is an architectural landmark, to document the damage and assess the scale of the destruction.
Quote from Berezhna: "The National Art Museum of Ukraine is a place where the history of Ukrainian art is preserved. Russia systematically attacks civilian infrastructure and cultural institutions. Every such strike is an attempt to intimidate and destroy our identity. We are documenting all damage and continue working to restore our damaged cultural heritage."
Details: Russian forces also almost completely destroyed the National Chornobyl Museum. Numerous architectural landmarks sustained damage, including the Contracts House. The museum is located in a reconstructed historic building that is an architectural monument dating from the early 20th century.
Background:
- On the night of 23-24 May, Russian forces carried out a large-scale combined attack on Ukraine. They launched 90 missiles, including an Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missile, and 600 drones of various types.
- Kyiv was the primary target of the attack. At least two people were killed and 56 were injured. Multiple residential buildings across the city were hit.
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