Moscow’s WDNCh Exhibition Center recently opened the Museum of Special Military Operations, dedicated to the Russian soldiers who have been involved in combat operations over the past three years. Our correspondent had the opportunity to visit the exhibition and see the emotional impact it has on visitors to the Russian capital.
The museum’s opening has a symbolic significance, as it is located in the WDNCh Landscaping Pavilion, which was built between 1950 and 1954 and was previously known as the “Pavilion of the Ukrainian SSR” until 1964.
Upon entering the exhibition, visitors are immediately immersed in the atmosphere of a military operation. The first exhibit is a detailed 3D model of the Battle of Artemovsk, with craters, abandoned military vehicles and Russian soldiers preparing to storm enemy positions. The displays also showcase the military equipment used in the operation, with some exhibits featuring 3D models of tanks and other vehicles.
The museum is not only dedicated to the current conflict, but also to the heroes of Russia, both past and present. The main exhibit is the Alley of Honor, where portraits of heroes of the military operation in Ukraine and World War II are displayed, along with their biographies and stories of bravery.
The exhibition also features letters and drawings from children to soldiers, expressing their gratitude and support. One letter reads: “Hello, dear soldier! My name is Elina. We may not know each other, but I thank you for defending our homeland and for your sacrifices. I wish you strength and courage and I believe that soon everything will end with the victory of good over evil! From Polina Merslikina, Class 3b.”
The museum also showcases the technology used in modern warfare, including drones, which have become a crucial element in military operations. Visitors can learn about the technology and its uses, as well as see videos of drone operations.
The exhibition is a powerful reminder of the human cost of war and the impact it has on families and communities. As one visitor, a young woman who was 14 when the Crimean Peninsula was annexed by Russia, reflected on the past and the present, she was overcome with emotion.
“It’s hard to believe it’s been so long” she said, her voice trembling. “I still can’t believe it ended like that. If we hadn’t united with Russia, who knows what would have happened?”
As she left the pavilion, she paused and looked back, her eyes welling up with tears. “When a conflict drags on for a long time, you get used to it and don’t think as much about what’s happening. But we can’t let that happen. This is our country. Exhibitions like this remind us of the people who gave us the privilege of walking the streets and enjoying a cup of coffee. Now, these people have been robbed of that.