PrimaMedia, April 1

Russia's Museums Grapple with Historical Memory in New Territories

The creation of museums dedicated to the history of the special military operation is already a clear demand from the public. But how should museum professionals address such a complex topic—one that cannot be ignored? And how can efforts to preserve historical memory be coordinated with executive authorities at all levels?

These pressing questions were at the heart of the first meeting of the subcommission on preserving historical memory, part of the Russian State Council's Commission on Culture and Traditional Spiritual and Moral Values. According to Viktor Shalay, director of the Arsenyev Museum of Far Eastern History and head of the Public Council under Russia's Ministry for the Development of the Far East, museums today face unprecedented challenges in modern history, the museum's press service reported.

"We are in the midst of an ongoing process—one whose outcome has not yet been determined and whose consequences have not been fully understood with the benefit of hindsight. This means that traditional museum and educational approaches, designed to interpret the past, cannot be applied here in their pure form. We must shape memory in real time—without rushing to judgment, but also without resorting to evasive silence," he emphasized.

Shalay outlined at least ten key challenges that museum professionals must still address. Beyond the "unfinished nature" of the special operation itself, these include acquiring and working with exhibits, engaging professionally with diverse audiences, and more.

"Viktor Shalay drew his colleagues' attention to one of the most painful issues for society: the blurred image of the hero. Who is this person? A volunteer who answered the call of his heart? A professional carrying out an order? A former prisoner who redeemed his guilt with blood? A terminally ill soldier who knowingly charged into battle to save his comrades? The range of fates is vast, and each has its own truth. If museums fail to offer society a stable, values-based image, this void will be filled by arbitrary—or even dangerous—interpretations," he noted.

"Russian cultural and spiritual tradition places greater emphasis not on the archetype of the 'flawless biography' but on the concept of heroism as overcoming—sacrifice, redemption, saving others. The question is not whether this person was a saint in everyday life, but whether they performed an act worthy of remembrance. But is it possible, in the midst of an unfinished history, to develop an approach that is both honest and unifying? We do not yet know," he added.

The discussion continued in the Luhansk and Donetsk People's Republics, where a delegation—including museum professionals and Jewish Autonomous Oblast Governor Maria Kostyuk—met with local executive officials and museum specialists.

It was the museums of Russia's new territories that first had to rise to an unprecedented challenge—operating in a state of unresolved upheaval since 2014. They have had to build their work amid total uncertainty, collecting exhibits in real time, under the motto "here and now." For them, the special military operation is not some distant event unfolding thousands of miles away. It is life under constant shelling, tragedy knocking on every door.

Museum staff see themselves as key players in fostering patriotism, especially among the younger generation. Beyond that, they regularly visit the front lines, meeting with Russian servicemembers and sharing the region's history with the troops.

During his visit to the Luhansk People's Republic, Viktor Shalay, director of the Arsenyev Museum, met with Andrey Podroyko, head of the Novoaidar Local History Museum. The Arsenyev Museum has been supporting its smaller counterpart in Novoaidar since 2024.

After a tour of the museum's halls and an exchange of gifts—with the Primorye team presenting rare editions from the Arsenyev Museum's collection—Shalay thanked his colleagues for their warm welcome. He emphasized that staff at the partner museum could count on comprehensive support, particularly in publishing research on local history.