From Aug. 20, 2021 until the full-scale Russian aggression against the Ukrainian people, “Forever Free Ukraine!” , exhibition was displayed at the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War in Kyiv.
On Feb.24, 2022, the exhibition was closed, and the artefacts were evacuated.
However, as of Sep. 22, 2022, the exhibition opened again. This time, in the Republic of Lithuania, at Vytautas the Great War Museum in Kaunas, a 2022 European Capital of Culture, at the initiative of the government of this country. It will be on display until June 2023.
The event is held under the patronage of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania Ingrida Shimonite.
“I rejoice at every opportunity to have a public conversation about the undying freedom of Ukraine because I believe that Ukraine will soon not only achieve victory against the aggressor again but will also become a full-fledged members of the European Union, and not as a concession to this nation of heroes but a blessing to the entire Europe,”
said Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė at the official opening of the exhibition. She noted that the exhibition reflects the national self-awareness and identity of Ukrainian people, their determination to fight for the future of the country.
“I hope that the exhibition will attract the attention of Lithuanians and, at the same time, strengthen the hope of Ukrainians who have found refuge in Lithuania” ,
added Prime Minister.
“This exhibition is a symbol of our mutual fight that gives meaning to our cultural, military cooperation and the united aspiration of the transatlantic community – a Ukraine that’s free forever,”
underscored Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas.
Rita Malinauskienė, Director and curator of Vytautas the Great War Museum greeted the guests at the inauguration of the exhibition.
Yurii Savchuk, Curator of the exhibition, Director of the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War said:
“The exhibition is not only about the military history, it is also about the ongoing war. Unfortunately, due to the full-scale Russian aggression, we had to cancel this project in Kyiv. On the first day of the war, the exhibition was dismantled, packed, and, on the following day it was evacuated to safe regions in Western Ukraine. We seemed then to had lost forever this unique exposition on display in museum space. However today, In Lithuania, at Vytautas the Great War Museum, at the initiative of the Prime Minister of Lithuania Ingrida Shimonite we present this wonderful project. It is the first European museum exposition of Ukraine in the status of a candidate for the EU.”
“The exhibition is the first museum project of Ukraine in Europe as EU member candidate. The joint presentation of the exhibition by three countries – Ukraine, Lithuania and the USA – symbolizes the Euro-Atlantic cultural integration of Ukraine… “Forever Free Ukraine!” exhibition is dedicated to Ukrainians who fought for independence from Russian empire a century ago, and those who are currently defending our statehood against Russian aggressor”,
noted Bogdan Gubsky, Chaiman of the Foundation “Ukraine – 21 st Century“.
Lubow Wolynetz, curator of the Ukrainian Museum and Library of Stamford (USA), spoke on behalf of the three delegates of the five US museums that participated in the exhibition. She emphasized the role of the Ukrainian diaspora in the USA, whose efforts preserved the rarities of the Ukrainian history now on display. Ms Wolynetz pointed out to the rich common history of the Ukrainian and Lithuanian peoples on the way to freedom.
Helene Rånlund, Director General of the Swedish National Museum of Military History Armémuseu emphasized the historical significance of the exhibition in the field of cultural diplomacy.
Helene Rånlund presented Yurii Savchuk with the Gold Medal “For Merit”.
Volodymyr Taran, Designer of the exhibition in Kyiv and Kaunas, spoke about artistic implementation of the concept of the exhibition, and the peculiarities of its display at Vytautas the Great War Museum’ s galleries.
During the curatorial tour, Yurii Savchuk emphasized that among 250 unique exhibits of the Ukrainian Army of 1914–1923 that came from various museum institutions of Ukraine and the USA, there are original documents and artifacts from the funds of the Central State Archive of Ukraine, as well as from the Branch State Archive of the Security Service of Ukraine.
For the first time since its Independence, Ukraine is displaying the originals from the National Archive Fund abroad.
At the exhibition, the Central Military Academy of Ukraine is presenting a compass belonging an Officer of the 1st Zaporizhzhia Rifle Division, Officers’ Sich Riflemen epaulets Various collar Insignia worn by officers of the Ukrainian People’s Republic, large and small buttons with a trident, A graduate’s badge from the Joint Cadet School, Badge commemorating a “United Ukraine”, Cockades (Rosettes) of the Ukrainian Military, An Act prepared by the Intendant Directorate-General of the Ukrainian People’s Republic concerning the quality of fabric for the Cossacks’ Military Uniform as well as its samples, Drawing of Collar Insignia for the Galician Regiment named after Bohun in the UNR Army, Uniform design for the Ukrainian People’s Republic Border Troops, Uniform for the Hetman’s Headquarters and Convoy, Combat uniform design for the Independent Serdyutska (Guard) Division of the Ukrainian State’s Military They make in total 18 subjects and 7 documents.
Photo from the Opening Ceremony:
PARTICIPANTS:
USA
Ukrainian Museum and Library of Stamford
Ukrainian National Museum of Chicago
The Ukrainian Museum, New York
Ukrainian Academy of Arts and Sciences in the U.S.
Patriarch Mstyslav Museum, Ukrainian Historical and Educational Center, Somerset
Ukraine
Museums
Kamianets National Historical-Architectural Reserve
National Museum of the History of Ukraine
National Military History Museum of Ukraine
Lviv Historical Museum
Zhytomyr Regional Museum
Chernivtsi regional local history museum
Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Museum of Liberation Struggle named after Stepan Bandera
Museum of the History of Kyiv
Hetman Museum, Kyiv
Sheremetiev Museum, Kyiv
One Street Museum, Kyiv
Archives
The Central State Archive of Governing Bodies of Ukraine
H.S Pshenychny Central State Film, Photp, and Sound Archive of Ukraine
Security Service of Ukraine Sectoral State Archive
Partners:
Institute of Culture of Lithuania
Cultural attaché of the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Ukraine
Sponsors:
BTA Baltic Insurance Company”
Hotel Best Baltic Kaunas
Hotel ” Moxy “
Hotel Radisson Kaunas
transport company “Ecolines”, “Brandus”, “Zhardukas”, “Manantyns”, “ARG technics”
Information about the exhibition is presented:
on the government portal of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania
on the official site Ministries of the National Defense of Lithuania Republic
on the official site Military Museum named after Vytautas the Great
on other channels in the Republic of Lithuania:
https://www.lrytas.lt/
https://kauno.diena.lt/
https://www.lrt.lt/
https://sc.bns.lt/
https://www.15min.lt/
on the pages of National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War..
in Ukrainian Media:
https://nazhyvo.kyiv.ua/
https://bigkyiv.com.ua/