On 24 February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, resulting in thousands of deaths and widespread destruction. Nearly 1,000 days of war have passed— 1,000 days filled with tears, pain, despair, resilience, hope, and unyielding determination. Ukraine stands strong, continues to resist, and believes in victory. The Rinat Akhmetov Foundation’s Museum of Civilian Voices has collected over 120,000 stories from those who have suffered due to the war.
"1,000 Days. Thousands of Stories" is a project by the Museum that serves as a poignant reminder to the world of the ongoing war in the heart of Europe. It features a collection of 20 key milestones from the 1,000 days of full-scale conflict. From the first day of the invasion, the assault on Kyiv region, millions of refugees, and the tragedy of Mariupol, to the abduction of Ukrainian children, the fortress of Bakhmut, the liberation of Kherson, and the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam – these and other pivotal events are told through the lives of Ukrainians whose stories are preserved in the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation’s Museum of Civilian Voices.
- Illia, a 10-year-old from Mariupol, who lost his mother, sustained injuries, and endured a long journey from the occupied territories to Kyiv: https://bit.ly/3CbYKFK
- Oleh, an MBA lecturer from Kyiv region, who miraculously survived torture in Russian captivity: https://bit.ly/3YYUySY
- Natalia, a Mariupol resident, who witnessed her city reduced to ruins, saw people killed in the streets, and narrowly survived a severe injury: https://bit.ly/3YGLVL8
- Larysa, a doctor from Kyiv, who saved newborns during a brutal missile attack on Okhmatdyt Hospital: https://bit.ly/3YYUJh6
These are just a few of the 1,000 stories. Explore more at: https://bit.ly/4hEmYsp
Natalia Yemchenko, a member of the Supervisory Board of the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation, said: "I strongly believe that the most significant museums of this war, and indeed the most important forms of remembrance, should focus not just on events but on people and their stories—those who lived through and witnessed these events. The Museum of Civilian Voices is already one of the largest archives of civilian stories in the world. It amplifies the voices of hundreds of thousands who have lost their homes, loved ones, health, or livelihoods but have not lost their memory or the ability to testify to the truth."
Since 2014, the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation’s Museum of Civilian Voices has been collecting, preserving, and sharing the testimonies of civilians about their experiences during the war in Ukraine. It is now the world’s largest archive and a vital source of truth about the conflict. The Museum holds over 120,000 stories and continues to grow daily.
