National Military History Museum of Ukraine
The National History Museum of Ukraine (Ukrainian: Національний військово-історичний музей України) refers to Ukraine's national museum of military history. The museum located in Kyiv and managed by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, shows the story of military life in modern time Ukraine.
History
After Ukraine gained its independence in 1991, the idea for a National History Museumwas created, leading to its establishment in October 1995. It opened its doors in June 1998, with the first exhibition of“Armed Forces of Ukraine: Origins (1917–1991)”.[1] In 2010, the museum was granted national status and renamed the National Military History Museum of Ukraine,[2][3] reflecting its expanded role in research, education, and public outreach.[4][5]
Location
The main museum building is located in Kyiv, Ukraine, near central government and cultural institutions.[1]
Mission and scope
The objective of the National History Museum of Ukraine is to document, collect, preserve and study materials related to the military history of Ukeaine. This includes the development of armed forces, military traditions and the role of Ukrainian lands and peoples in regional and global conflicts.
The museume's timeline cover the:
- Prehistoric and ancient warfare.[1][4]
- The Kievan Rus’ period and medieval military equipment.[4]
- The Cossack era and the Hetmanate.[5]
- World War I.[5]
- Ukrainian–Soviet War.[5]
- World War II.[5]
- The Soviet period.[5]
- The Armed Forces of independent Ukraine and contemporary military events.[5]
Exhibitions and collections
The museum's permanent and temporary exhibitions include artifacts such as:
- Weapons and military equipment.
- Uniforms and personal gear.
- Flags, banners, and insignia.
- Orders, medals, and awards.
- Archival documents, photographs, and maps.
The collections represent both Ukrainian military formations and broader military developments on Ukrainian territory across different historical periods.
Requiem exhibition "Heroes Don't Die!"
On December 10, 2014, the museum opened the exhibition "Heroes Don't Die!" dedicated to the memory of those killed in the Russian-Ukrainian war in 2014.[6]
Branch museums
The National Military History Museum of Ukraine includes five branches:
- The Volyn Regional Museum of Ukrainian Military Troops and Equipment (Lutsk)
- The Museum of Strategic Missile Forces (Pervomaisk)
- The Memorial Complex “In Memory of the Heroes of Kruty”
- The Museum of Heavy Bomber Aviation (Poltava)
- Other specialized military-historical sites
These branches focus on specific aspects of military history and regional heritage.
See also
References
- ^ a b c "National Military History Museum of Ukraine – Where to go, what to see, where to relax in Kyiv". go2.kiev.ua. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
- ^ Краля, І. В. (2010-12-12), "Збройних сил України Центральний музей", Енциклопедія Сучасної України (in Ukrainian), vol. 10, Інститут енциклопедичних досліджень НАН України, ISBN 978-966-02-2074-4, retrieved 2026-02-05
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: work parameter with ISBN (link) - ^ "УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ № 29/2010 - Офiцiйне представництво Президента України". www.president.gov.ua. Archived from the original on 2014-07-10. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
- ^ a b c "National Military History Museum of Ukraine". guide-stg.kyivcity.gov.ua. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Національний військово-історичний музей України". museum.mcsc.gov.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2026-02-05.
- ^ "Виставка-реквієм "Герої не вмирають!"". nvimu.com.ua. Retrieved 2026-02-05.