On December 25, the Museum gathered friends and partners for the Christmas Meeting – an annual reporting event established during the first year of the full-scale invasion. For the fourth time, this event served as a space for dialogue and gratitude to everyone who stood by the Museum and supported its work throughout the year.
The Christmas Meeting brought together government officials, cultural figures, diplomats, military personnel, patrons, and supporters of the Museum. It is an opportunity not only to summarize the year’s results but also to witness the community forming around the themes of memory, responsibility, and mutual support.
As part of the event, the Director General of the War Museum, Yurii Savchuk, presented a public report on the institution’s activities in 2025, outlining key achievements, completed projects, and the challenges faced while operating under wartime conditions. These included organizational and spatial transformations, exhibition projects in Ukraine and abroad, large-scale artistic initiatives, and the introduction of cultural rehabilitation programs for the military and their families. These results were made possible thanks to a wide circle of the Museum’s friends and partners. We are moved by the warm words addressed to us by representatives of the Security and Defence Forces of Ukraine, state authorities, and partner institutions.
As a sign of special gratitude, the Museum presented a unique award crafted from the steel of the Trident (Tryzub) that adorns the “Motherland Monument”. In 2025, the award was presented to:
- The Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine (HUR MO) – for institutional support;
- Major General Yuliia Laputina – for strategic communications;
- Nataliia Moroz de Toledo (Chile) – for public diplomacy.
The festive atmosphere was enhanced by representatives of the Plast scouting organization, who delivered the Peace Light of Bethlehem to the Museum. Soloists from the National Philharmonic of Ukraine joined the musical program, performing traditional Christmas songs, while collective carol-singing provided a natural continuation of the evening and an opportunity for guests to converse in a warm, informal setting.
The Christmas Meeting served as an occasion to thank all partners, colleagues, and friends of the Museum for their support, trust, and collaborative efforts throughout the year. Concluding 2025, the War Museum team enters the new year with a sense of responsibility, focus, and readiness to continue our work dedicated to preserving historical memory.
