During the liquidation of the consequences of the Russian attack in the destroyed National Museum "Chernobyl" on Podil, staff managed to save part of the exhibits, and a Russian missile was found on the roof of the building. Despite the catastrophic damage to the institution, museum workers and utility services continue to continuously clear the debris of the structure. This was reported by the National Museum "Chernobyl".

Collection losses and the rescue of unique artifacts

On the third day after the shelling, museum workers found 30 surviving artifacts under tons of concrete, and search operations are still ongoing. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the museum lost about 40% of its collection due to the shelling.

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However, the most valuable items were preserved, including:

• a unique painting by the world-famous artist Maria Prymachenko;
• the flag of Ukraine, which was raised over the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant after its de-occupation in 2022;
• items from the institution's secure internal storage facilities.

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Finding them intact under tons of concrete is a colossal achievement, our great joint victory over destruction. Each monument raised from the dust is like a breath of fresh air for the entire museum," share the emotional staff of the cultural institution.

Bomb disposal experts' work and safety on Podil

Meanwhile, on the roof of the museum, utility workers and rescuers discovered a large remnant of a Russian missile that directly hit the building. Next to the historical treasures, specialists removed metal fragments that will become further physical evidence in the investigation of the war crimes of the aggressor country.

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Currently, the area around the affected museum has been fully opened for pedestrian passage and free passage of vehicles. However, city services note that the most dangerous areas near the damaged structures of the building remain tightly cordoned off for the safety of Kyiv residents.

The institution's team continues to sift through the debris centimeter by centimeter, stating that Ukrainian culture cannot be shot down or buried under concrete.

Consequences of massive air terror

We remind you that on the night of May 24, Russian troops carried out a massive attack on Kyiv using 90 missiles of various types, including 36 ballistic missiles, as well as about 600 attack drones.

The main targets of the enemy were ordinary residential buildings, schools, water supply facilities, one of the oldest food markets in the capital, as well as transport network buildings, including the vestibules of the "Lukianivska" and "Khreshchatyk" metro stations.

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The historical heritage of the city in the center and on Podil suffered particularly large-scale destruction. The explosion waves damaged the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Art Museum, and the office of the German media ARD.

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The National Museum "Chernobyl", which had only completed large-scale restoration at the end of April 2026 for the 40th anniversary of the ChNPP tragedy, restoring the unique 1910 fire watchtower, was almost completely destroyed.