National Chernobyl Museum 'Nearly Completely Destroyed'; Seven Cultural Institutions Damaged in Kyiv

The May 24 Russian mass attack caused catastrophic cultural and historical damage in Kyiv. The National Chernobyl Museum — housed in the historic Fire Watchtower in Kyiv's Podil district and dedicated to the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster's 40th anniversary, having only recently been restored and reopened — was described by Ukrainian authorities as 'nearly completely destroyed.' Also struck or severely damaged were: the National Philharmonic of Ukraine, the National Music Academy of Ukraine, the National Library of Ukraine (Yaroslav the Wise), the Kyiv Opera, the historic Contract House (Kontraktova square), the central Post Office, and the Ukrainian House exhibition center. Ukrainian Culture Minister Mykola Tochytskyi said this was the largest number of cultural institutions struck in Kyiv in a single attack since the war began. President Zelensky personally visited the destroyed Chernobyl Museum, describing it as a 'deliberate attack on Ukrainian memory and identity.' At least 1–2 civilians were killed and 77–83 injured across Kyiv and Oblast from the combined strike, including a rehabilitation center for children with disabilities. The UN Security Council convened to hear that the Ukraine war was 'becoming deadlier by the day.' A children's rehabilitation center was also among the damaged sites.