Within the last decade, Russo-Ukrainian War became an integral part of the Museum exhibition space. During this period, a number of significant initiatives were accomplished. In 2017 the “Ukrainian East” title first sounded, which marked an entire direction on the Museum activities. In 2019, the same name large-scale exhibition project was presented. It continued until February 24, 2022.
One of the most creative decision became an artistic installation in a form of a peculiar labyrinth with personal materials of outstanding people, whose destinies reflecting historical events of that period. That is why among belongings of Ukrainian heroes, such as Oleh Mikhniuk, Vasyl Slipak, Sergii Kulchytskyi, Igor Gordiychuk was presented unique exhibit – a teenager goalkeeper`s glove of Stepan Chubenko. In this story on one hand affects beast cruelty of the eternal enemy to Ukrainians, and on another hand – their awareness of the necessity of individual self-sacrifice for Motherland. Stepan Chubenko was born in the city of Kramatorsk. Since childhood, he found of sports, did Greco-Roman wrestling, and was a prizewinner of the regional competitions, became of a local youth football team “Vanguard”. He dreamed to become a professional in the sport area. He also root for the “Shakhtar” football team, read books, found history and had acting skills – no one school activity was held without his participation. Along with his friends, Stepan Chubenko organized local KVN team and carried for local orphanage.
In 2014, at the beginning of the war he participated in rallies to support Ukrainian territorial integrity and helped Ukrainian militaries, who arrived to the city. Risking with his own life Stepan Chubenko took down the flag of so-called “DPR”. In July 2014, he moved to Kyiv in order to join one of the volunteer battalions, but was refused because of age. Afterwards Chubenko joined the “Company of Lion”, which was one of the Maidan self-defense units. On July 23, 2014, he got on the train back to the Donetsk city. Russian militants arrested Stepan Chubenko soon after his arrival to the Donetsk railway station. The reasons of his detentions were blue-yellow ribbon on the backpack and a scarf with colors of the “Carpathians” football club. After refuse to join the terrorists and cruel tortures, Stepan Chubenko was killed. He is forever 16.
Stepan Chubenko was awarded Order “For Courage” and title of the People`s Hero of Ukraine posthumously. The school he graduated and one of APC of the 21 Independent Motorized Battalion “Sarmat” were named after Stepan Chubenko. Later in Kramatorsk in the Bernatskyi`s city garden near the entrance to the football stadium a monument in honor of Stepan Chubenko was settled. The place of monument was chosen not by accident, as football was his life. Stepan`s mother wanted young football players, who played on the stadium, remembered him simple, cheerful and in love with sport – right as they are.