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After visiting Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, I walked to the Motherland Monument and the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War Memorial Complex (quite a mouthful!).
The Complex
Formerly the National Museum of the History of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, this huge complex was formally opened in a ceremony on May 9, 1981, by Soviet Premier Leonid Brezhnev. It was created to honor the sacrifices made by the Ukrainian people during World War II. The complex is situated along a long path starting at the entrance. Along the path are cannons and a tank.
Military Vehicles
Two sections just off the path lead to areas filled with a collection of 65 20th century military vehicles, including tanks, planes, trucks, and helicopters. Adult admission is ₴30 and an additional ₴20 to enter three exclusive aircraft (as of February 2024). It’s open daily except Mondays.
Flame of Glory
The path continues to a short tunnel with a large bowl on the left side. In the bowl is the Flame of Glory. It burns continuously and has a diameter of 16 meters.
Inside the tunnel are relief sculptures of different scenes of the war. Depicted are the defense of the Soviet border against the Nazi invasion in 1941, the struggles of the Soviet partisans, and the contribution of the citizens.
Crossing of the Dnieper Monument
On the other side of the tunnel is a large square that can accommodate up to 30,000 people for ceremonies. The impressive Crossing of the Dnieper monument is the focal point of the square.
Alley of the Hero Cities
Another feature of the square includes the Alley of the Hero Cities, which names cities that fought bravely during the war. When I was visiting, there were also two tanks on display that were repainted to promote peace.
Motherland Monument
The Motherland Monument (Rodina Mat) is the enormous statue that’s a symbol of Kyiv and can be seen from very far away. It stands 62 meters high to the tip of the sword and the shield is 12 by 8 meters. It was designed by Ukrainian sculptor Vasyl Borodai (1917-2010). The shield originally depicted the communist hammer and sickle, but it was removed in August 2023 and replaced with the Ukrainian coat of arms. Inside the base is a memorial with the names of over 11,600 soldiers killed in World War II carved into marble plaques. The base is accessible through the museum (see below).
It’s also possible to climb to two different observation decks. One is at the base of the monument and costs ₴100 (as of February 2024). The other observation deck is 91 meters above the ground at the top of the shield and requires a lot of physical activity. That costs ₴500 (as of February 2024). These activities weren’t available during my visit. The observation decks are open daily except Mondays.
War Museum
Underneath the Motherland Monument is the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War. It’s one of the best war museums I have ever visited. If you’re into history, especially World War II, it’s not to be missed. The museum is open daily except Mondays starting at 10am. Adult admission is ₴70 (as of February 2024). A guided tour in English is ₴400. At the time of my visit a photo pass was extra. I wish I had paid for the photo pass because there were some very impressive items.
