Elena Khimchuk, Director of the Murmansk Regional Museum of Local History, participated in the international scientific and practical conference "The 80th Anniversary of the Great Victory in Museums: Practices, Projects, Solutions," held in Minsk. Organized by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Belarus, the Belarusian State Museum of the History of the Great Patriotic War, and the Victory Museum in Moscow,
the event brought together the heads and specialists of leading military history museums in Russia and Belarus. The conference served as a platform for summing up the anniversary year, sharing unique experiences, and presenting the most significant exhibition and educational projects.
As part of the business program, Elena Khimchuk delivered a report entitled "The North Remembers: Projects of the Murmansk Regional Museum of Local History and Museums of the Murmansk Region for the Victory Anniversary." She detailed regional initiatives, exhibitions, and events aimed at preserving the memory of the heroic deeds in the Arctic and our region"s contribution to the overall Victory.
Particular attention was paid to the museum's contemporary historical exhibits, which have been created following a major renovation. She noted that since its opening in March 2025, the renovated museum building has been visited by over 100,000 northerners and visitors to the region, confirming its status as a new landmark.
Elena Khimchuk also highlighted the interactive sections dedicated to the defense of the Arctic: a realistically recreated wartime apartment with charred ceilings, a memorial hall with authentic wartime relics, and multimedia projections that allow visitors to hear the sailors" recollections and immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the war years. She also spoke about a hall dedicated to contemporary events—combat operations in the Northern Military District.
The report also highlighted initiatives for patriotic education of youth, including the museum's "Land of Heroes" project, which is being held for schoolchildren in the Murmansk Region at the initiative of Governor Andrei Chibis.
Participation in the conference allowed for the establishment of new professional contacts and strengthened partnerships. Elena Khimchuk invited colleagues from museums in Russia and Belarus to a large-scale celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Murmansk Regional Museum of Local History, which will be one of the region"s main cultural events in 2026.
The visit to Minsk was part of the governor's "Live in the North!" plan and the Murmansk Region government"s program to strengthen partnership with the Republic of Belarus in the cultural sphere.
/ Ministry of Culture of the Murmansk Region /