Museums, opera and historic landmarks: Kyiv heavily damaged (photos)

A brutal Russian overnight attack on Kyiv has caused extensive damage across the city. Here is a summary of the strikes on May 24 and the scale of the destruction.

National Chornobyl Museum damaged in Kyiv

The National Chornobyl Museum, located in the Podil neighborhood, was damaged in the Russian strike overnight. Yaroslav Yemelyanenko, head of the Association of Chornobyl Tour Operators, reported that windows were blown out in neighboring buildings.

"It’s devastating, but what matters is that everyone is alive. Our anger is only growing. As long as we live, we will seek revenge," Yemelyanenko said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later visited the site of the damaged museum to inspect the destruction.

Postal Station and Church of the Nativity of Christ after Russian strike

Debris and a powerful blast wave damaged landmarks on Poshtova Square. The Poshtova Square Museum reported that the Church of the Nativity of Christ and the Postal Station—a historic landmark of national significance—sustained damage, with windows shattered in the postal station building.

The museum added that it is currently impossible to reach the police by phone. However, all damage has already been officially reported to Maryna Soloviova, Director of the Department for Cultural Heritage Protection.

Kyiv Opera damaged in the Russian attack

The Kyiv Opera—specifically the Kyiv Municipal Academic Opera and Ballet Theater building—was damaged in Russia's massive missile and drone strike, according to the opera's official page.

"Due to damage to the theater building caused by the overnight massive strike, we are forced to cancel today's performance of the "Thumbelina" ballet," the statement read.

All purchased tickets remain valid, and the performance will be rescheduled for a later date to be announced.

Kyiv Small Opera in Lukyanivka damaged by the Russian atta

The Kyiv Small Opera was hit during the strike of the Lukyanivka neighborhood.

"Tonight, Lukyanivska Square came under a devastating missile strike. A historical and architectural landmark—the gem of Lukyanivska Square, the Lukyanivka People's House / Kyiv Small Opera—has been damaged once again," the opera's page stated.

Volunteers are invited to join the cleanup efforts.

Ukrayinskyi Dim damaged

The Ukrayinskyi Dim (Ukrainian House) National Center on Khreshchatyk Street was damaged in the Russian shelling, according to director Olha Viieru.

"Part of the facade windows at the Ukrainian House were shattered. These windows are fragile and have already survived quite a lot along with our long-suffering building. But what matters is that people, the artworks, and the museum collections are safe," the director wrote.

Staff on night duty spent the entire time in the shelter and were not injured. The Ukrainian House is currently documenting the damage and cleaning up to open an exhibition for Kyiv residents on Tuesday.

Valeriy Lobanovskyi Dynamo Stadium hit in the Russian strike

Debris damaged the Lobanovskyi Dynamo Stadium in Kyiv, the Dynamo Kyiv football club reported. According to preliminary information, the office section of the stadium was affected, with windows blown out.

No other damage has been reported so far.

Despite the destruction, Kyiv's match against Kudrivka will start on schedule.

National Art Museum of Ukraine after the strike

The blast wave damaged the building of the National Art Museum of Ukraine (NAMU), which is an architectural, historical, and monumental art landmark of national significance.

Relevant emergency services, together with museum staff, are currently inspecting the premises, documenting the aftermath of the shelling, and establishing the exact scale of the destruction.

Tetiana Berezhna, Vice Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy and Minister of Culture of Ukraine, emphasized that Russia systematically attacks cultural institutions in an attempt to destroy Ukrainian identity.

Despite the damage, the ministry and the institution's leadership are already developing an emergency response plan and working to restore NAMU—one of the country's most important cultural hubs, holding tens of thousands of unique pieces of Ukrainian art.

Dominican monastery damaged

Father Jarosław Krawiec, the Vicar General of the Dominicans in Ukraine, reported that a Russian missile destroyed a building adjacent to the Dominican monastery in Kyiv during the overnight strike at around 04:00 a.m. This night was one of the most terrifying in the neighborhood since the beginning of the war.

The monastery itself suffered extensive damage, with many windows and doors blown out, and impact recorded in the friars' cells, the chapel, the assembly hall, and the classrooms of the St. Thomas Aquinas Institute.

None of the monastery staff or guests were injured, but several neighbors were wounded by shrapnel. The superior also called for prayer, noting that a large drone later flew over them again, followed by an explosion in the distance.

Attack on Kyiv: latest news

We would like to remind you that after another massive night attack by the Russian Federation in Kyiv, the elimination of the consequences of the shelling continues. According to the head of the KMVA, Timur Tkachenko, destruction and damage were recorded at more than 40 locations in different districts of the capital .

In particular, in the Shevchenkivskyi district, the entrance to a school shelter was covered with debris, blocking people inside.

As a result of the enemy strike, according to preliminary data, two people were killed and more than 56 people were injured to varying degrees of severity. All the injured are currently receiving necessary medical assistance.

Rescuers, medics, police, and city utilities continue to work intensively at the sites of impacts and falling debris. The KMVA noted that information about the deployment of aid headquarters for affected residents will be released later.