Russian strike on Kyiv damages WWII museum at foot of Motherland Monument
A Russian missile strike during a massive overnight attack damaged the Hall of Glory at Ukraine’s National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War, located at the base of the Motherland Monument in Kyiv, according to Culture Minister Tetyana Berezhna.
Specialized teams including museum staff, technical services and police are inspecting the site, documenting damage and conducting an initial assessment of losses; the full scope of restoration work will be determined after the survey concludes.
"This is a monument of science and technology of local significance. It is both symbolic and cynical: the aggressor state is striking a blow against a place that commemorates the struggle against 20th-century aggression, repeating its crimes in the 21st century," Berezhna said.
The museum has previously sustained damage from Russian attacks, including explosive shockwave harm to the main building facade in June 2025.
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, more than 1,680 cultural heritage sites and thousands of cultural infrastructure facilities have been damaged or destroyed across Ukraine.
"This is a deliberate destruction of culture and memory, which requires a consolidated response from the international community. In particular, through the strengthening of sanctions against Russia and the provision of additional air defense capabilities to Ukraine," the minister added.
Russia carried out the large-scale assault overnight into Tuesday using various drones and missiles. In Kyiv, apartment buildings and other structures were hit across multiple districts, with five people reported injured.
Kharkiv also came under attack, with Mayor Ihor Terekhov saying ballistic missiles deliberately targeted energy infrastructure over several hours.
Other oblasts struck included Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy and Vinnytsia.
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