To mark the second anniversary of the liberation of the Kyiv region from Russian occupiers, the Museum of Kyiv History presents an exhibition project showcasing composite images of the city’s defenders across different historical eras.

From its very founding, Kyiv has been a coveted prize for invaders. For centuries, the city has stood in defense against aggressors and today remains a priority target in the Russian-Ukrainian war. Behind every stage of the struggle for the capital stands the image of a warrior-defender who chose to fight for the future of their city. Defending the homeland has always been considered a sacred duty, and those who stood guard over the frontiers with weapons in hand were heroes.

The exhibition project “Defending the City” will present five main composite images of defenders, each a symbol of the struggle of their era, embodying the highest ideals of service to the people and readiness for heroism in the name of the state. It tells the story of key military events throughout Kyiv’s thousand-year history — including the times of Kievan Rus, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Cossack state, the Ukrainian People’s Republic, and independent Ukraine.

“Today, as Kyiv and all of Ukraine are once again at war, we must remember the history of our resistance. History becomes our weapon! Without knowledge of the past, it is impossible to understand the nature of current events. The exhibition project ‘Defending the City’ will acquaint visitors with the key military events in Kyiv’s history, visualize composite images of its defenders, and once again emphasize that today the Armed Forces of Ukraine are fighting not only for independence but also for our history,” says Alina Sushko, exhibition curator, PhD in History, and senior research fellow at the Museum of Kyiv History.

This exhibition offers the opportunity to view a retrospective of military events on Ukrainian territory and to reflect on what we are experiencing today. It is important to reflect on the war right now, using all historical achievements and past experience.

“Knowing our history is the key to the future. We know very little about ourselves, our heroes, the greatness of our land and our nation. Therefore, today more than ever, it is crucial to study history, where everyone can find answers to their questions. And presenting the history of Kyiv not as a dry list of dates and places, but through the lens of images and symbols, is the path to rediscovering self-identity,” emphasized Zoriana Pelekh, exhibition partner, lawyer, and founder of ZP Law Office of Zoriana Pelekh.

Specifically for the exhibition, a photoshoot was conducted featuring defenders who protected the Kyiv region in 2022, dressed in military uniforms corresponding to the relevant historical periods.

Additionally, the project will be presented outdoors in the form of a St. banner exhibition at Kontraktova Square.

The exhibition project “Defending the City” is organized by the Museum of Kyiv History in collaboration with the Center for the Study of Military History of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Ivan Chernyakhovsky National Defense University of Ukraine, and the All-Ukrainian Public Organization “Young National Movement”, with the support of ZP Law Office of Zoriana Pelekh.