National Chornobyl Museum heavily damaged in massive Russian attack

“The National Chornobyl Museum has been destroyed. It was an architectural landmark,” Oleksandr Yemelianenko wrote on social media. “The feeling is the same as when the Russians destroyed all our facilities in the Chornobyl exclusion zone in 2022. It’s hard, but the main thing is that everyone is alive.”

He added that windows were blown out in nearby residential buildings and said he had detained a looter in one apartment before handing the suspect over to police.

“My life’s work has once again been destroyed. The damage is extensive. The Chornobyl store has been destroyed and is unlikely to reopen anytime soon. The premises are unfit for work,” Yemelianenko wrote. “Since nightfall, we have been sorting through and trying to save whatever can still be rescued. Right now we are drying Chornobyl embroidered shirts and cleaning books belonging to liquidators and other artifacts.”

The museum is located in the historic Fire Tower building dating back to the early 20th century.

“The National Chornobyl Museum has suffered destruction — a museum we reopened just a month ago after a lengthy restoration,” Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said. “This was a deliberate attack on history, memory and truth.”

Russia launched drones and missiles against Ukraine overnight into May 24. Explosions were reported in Kyiv, Sumy and Odesa and Khmelnytskyi oblasts.

Russia also struck an area near the city of Bila Tserkva in Kyiv Oblast with an RS-26 Rubezh (Oreshnik) intermediate-range ballistic missile, according to Yurii Ihnat, head of communications for Ukraine’s Air Force.