Russian Missiles Devastate Kyiv's Cultural Sites, Killing Two

On the night of 23 May 2026, a Russian missile strike severely damaged Kyiv's National Chornobyl Museum, which had just reopened on 26 April after a four-year renovation. Director Vitalina Martynovska reported that 40% of irreplaceable artefacts on display were destroyed, and the building's roof and floors collapsed. The attack, involving 60 missiles and 600 drones, killed two people and injured 90, also damaging the National Art Museum of Ukraine (Namu), where shock waves blew out windows and ceilings. Namu's director Yulia Lytvynets noted the building is closed indefinitely, though its collection is safe in storage. Other damaged sites include the Zhytnyi market and Mala Opera venue, which still planned a performance. Ukraine's culture ministry reports 1,723 cultural heritage sites and 2,524 cultural infrastructure sites destroyed or damaged since 2022.