Resistance 2022, an exhibition of destroyed russian military equipment.

In the spring of 2022 we announced that we were collecting war trophies for an exhibition. In July it opened at Chornobyl HUB on Andriivskyi Descent.

The exhibits were brought by volunteer teams that supply military units: fragments of missiles and shells, equipment and personal belongings abandoned by russian soldiers on Ukrainian soil. Next to them are works by Ukrainian artists made from the remains of these missiles.

A few things grip visitors most, especially schoolchildren. An ejection seat from a russian bomber shot down near Chernihiv, torn in half: the back and the seat flew apart. The guidance unit of a Tochka-U missile, made back in 1986 in Soviet Dnipropetrovsk.

And a Tula samovar from 1895, found in a dugout after the destruction of an airborne assault force near Hostomel. The invaders had been told they were flying to a parade, so they brought dress uniforms and even family heirlooms. When we shook the half-burned remains out of the samovar, it turned out it had been lit with pages of russian books about socialism. None of us would ever think of burning books to heat tea. It shows well how russia treats culture - even its own.

Admission is free. Every exhibit has a QR code: point your phone at it and you can send money to the very unit or volunteers who donated the item. There is a charity shop next door. And we take schoolchildren around the exhibition regularly and free of charge.