Prague Opens Exhibition Documenting Russia’s Genocidal War Against Ukraine: Artifacts Bear Witness to Occupiers’ Crimes

August 4, 2025 — The Czech capital witnessed the grand opening of the international exhibition “War. Made in Russia. Artifacts of the Russian-Ukrainian War” (“Válka. Vyrobeno v Rusku. Artefakty rusko-ukrajinské války”), organized by the Pylyp Orlyk Foundation in partnership with the Ukrainian Institute in Prague and with the support of the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War (Kyiv).

Exhibition as Evidence of War Crimes

The exhibition presents a unique collection of artifacts documenting the systematic crimes committed by the Russian Federation against the Ukrainian people, beginning with the illegal annexation of Crimea and occupation of parts of Donbas in 2014. Special attention is given to material evidence of the occupiers’ genocidal actions during the full-scale invasion that began on February 24, 2022.

Each exhibit is more than just an object — it carries the story of a specific person, family, or community whose life was forever altered by Russian aggression. Shell fragments from residential buildings, children’s toys pulled from rubble, personal belongings of killed civilians — these artifacts form a powerful narrative about the scale of tragedy and the inhuman cruelty of the occupiers.

High-Level Representation

The exhibition’s grand opening brought together representatives of Ukrainian and Czech political, diplomatic, and cultural elites.

The Ukrainian delegation included:

• Artem Mykolaychuk — Chairman of the Pylyp Orlyk Foundation and project initiator
• Volodymyr Yelchenko — Distinguished Ukrainian diplomat, former Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN, currently heading the Foundation’s international relations department
• Rostyslav Prokopiuk — Head of the Ukrainian Institute in Prague, which hosts the exhibition

Distinguished Czech guests included:

• Terezie Radoměřská — Mayor of Prague 1, who emphasized the importance of preserving memory of the aggressor’s crimes
• Otakar Foltýn — Czech Government Coordinator for Strategic Communications, who stressed the need to counter Russian disinformation
• Vladimír Votápek — Leading security analyst and expert on hybrid threats
• Vladimír Dzuro — International criminal investigator, former investigator for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, whose experience in investigating war crimes lends particular weight to his support
• Dominik Hašek — Czech hockey legend and Olympic champion who actively supports Ukraine
• Professor Petr Hlaváček — Representative of the academic community

Statements and Emotions

In his address, Artem Mykolaychuk emphasized the symbolism of each exhibit:

“Each of these exhibits represents a tragedy. It’s someone’s lost childhood, destroyed property, lost life. And unfortunately, with each passing day, there are more such exhibits. We’re showing the world not just objects — we’re showing the scale of a crime happening right now, in the 21st century, in the heart of Europe.”

Volodymyr Yelchenko expressed gratitude to the Czech people and government:

“We are extremely grateful for the military, humanitarian, and moral support that the Czech Republic provides to Ukraine, as well as for supporting our citizens who have found refuge in your country. This exhibition is another step toward ensuring the world neither forgets nor forgives Russia’s crimes.”

Official Support from Czech Republic

Czech government representatives at the event reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to comprehensive support for Ukraine. They assured that the Czech Republic will continue providing military, humanitarian, and political assistance, and pledged to support the Pylyp Orlyk Foundation’s activities and promote its initiatives at the international level.

Particularly significant was the Czech side’s emphasis on their readiness to participate in documenting war crimes and transferring collected materials to international judicial institutions.

Emotional Impact on Visitors

The exhibition had an extraordinarily powerful emotional impact on attendees. According to organizers, many visitors could not hold back tears while viewing the exhibits. People expressed outrage at the occupiers’ actions and, most importantly, actively asked how they could help Ukraine in its struggle.

This resonance demonstrates that the exhibition achieved its main goal — preventing the world from becoming accustomed to war, constantly reminding people of the tragedy unfolding daily on Ukrainian soil.

Support for #unrussiaUN Initiative

An important part of the event was the presentation of the global #unrussiaUN initiative aimed at expelling the Russian Federation from the United Nations. All high-ranking officials present not only signed the petition but also committed to promoting this initiative among their partners worldwide.

Artem Mykolaychuk called on the international community for decisive action:

“Expel Russia from the UN, initiate new hellish sanctions, extend support for Ukraine to all international institutions. Shout for us where we cannot. Because every day of delay means new victims, new destroyed lives, new artifacts for such exhibitions.”

Future Plans

Organizers announced that the “War. Made in Russia. Artifacts of the Russian-Ukrainian War” exhibition will remain open in Prague for the next three months. Plans include organizing tours for schoolchildren, students, and members of the diplomatic corps. The possibility of creating a virtual version of the exhibition is also being considered to reach the widest possible international audience.

The Pylyp Orlyk Foundation is already negotiating to organize similar exhibitions in other European capitals, ensuring that as many people as possible see the truth about Russian aggression and its consequences for the Ukrainian people.

Exhibition Partners:

• Ukrainian Institute in Prague
• National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War (Kyiv)

The Pylyp Orlyk Foundation continues its activities aimed at supporting Ukraine and countering Russian aggression on the international stage. Join our initiatives and follow updates on our official website.