With the onset of the large-scale invasion of Russian forces, a new trend emerged in Ukrainian visual culture — contemporary artists began painting fragments of shells, casings, launch tubes, pieces of military equipment and weapons, and ammunition boxes.
Such art objects are continually enriching the Museum’s collection. Among the many artifacts of this war, some stand out as particularly interesting and unique. One such item is a captured Orlan-10 — a multipurpose unmanned aerial vehicle that has already taken its place in the Memorial’s exhibition space.
The Orlan-10 is considered the most widespread and one of the most effective drones of the Russian Federation’s army. In particular, the enemy uses this type of UAV to adjust artillery fire and guide missile strikes on ground targets. It can also relay radio signals for kamikaze drones of the Lancet type. In addition, this unmanned aerial system is designed for surveillance of hard-to-reach areas and can be used to drop explosive devices. That is why these UAVs are priority targets for Ukrainian defenders, who have long and successfully hunted Russian “birds.”
The story behind this artifact is impressive. This UAV was captured as a trophy in the summer of 2022 on the southern front by servicemen of the 1129th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment. Later, the soldiers decided to present it to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, as a gift for Ukraine’s Independence Day.
Valerii Zaluzhnyi rose through all stages of a military career, from platoon commander to General of the Army. Through his character and the effectiveness of his command of Ukraine’s Armed Forces since the start of the full-scale invasion, Zaluzhnyi has forever inscribed his talent as a military genius in history alongside his idols — Montgomery, Patton, Abrams, and Bradley. In the pages of authoritative foreign media, the Commander-in-Chief, whose actions have earned admiration worldwide, appeared as the “Iron General” who managed to deliver a worthy rebuff to the Russian aggressor.
After visiting the Museum in person in September 2022, the general decided to donate the captured Russian UAV to its collection. Notably, the enemy’s weapon was decorated with a traditional Petrykivka ornamental design by renowned artist Iryna Kibets from the Dnipro region, a member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine. In this artistic act, the artist embedded a profound message — a prophecy of the victory of Ukrainian life and freedom over the deadly weapons of the “Ruscist” invaders.
It is worth noting that every museum art object reflects the emotions and experiences of the Ukrainian people — the great pain and the wounds that will not heal. The war leaves its mark on the heart of every Ukrainian.