Presentation of the Book 'Slavik. Museum in the Basement' at the National Museum of History of Ukraine

On April 6, 2026, at 3:00 PM, the National Museum of History of Ukraine, located at Volodymyrska Street 2, will host a significant event—the presentation of the book 'Slavik. Museum in the Basement.' This occasion will be accompanied by a public discussion on the topic 'Living Despite Everything: People, Memory, and the Experience of Occupation,' which promises to make a meaningful contribution to the understanding of the experiences of those affected by war.

The book 'Slavik. Museum in the Basement' narrates the story of Vyacheslav Dolzhenko, a resident of Mariupol who spent decades collecting artifacts that reflect the history of his hometown. This collection includes not only antique samovars and Austrian irons but also fragments of pre-revolutionary architecture, a stone babushka with a millennia-old history, and a piece of the foundation from the destroyed Kharlampiyivsky Cathedral. This collection has transformed from a mere assortment of items into a living memory of the city, where people could come, listen to stories, engage, and interact with the past without the distance typically associated with museums.

Tragically, during the siege of Mariupol in 2022, this archive was destroyed along with the building that housed it. In the basement, which once served as a repository of history, people sought refuge. Graves appeared in the yard. Vyacheslav Dolzhenko, while rescuing his 92-year-old mother, carried her out of the burning house through the basement that he had spent years turning into a museum. This heartbreaking story underscores the depth of loss and the importance of memory in difficult times.

The organizers emphasize that the book 'Slavik. Museum in the Basement' arises from the experience of loss and survival, as well as from the effort to document the memory of the city and its people. The public discussion, which will take place as part of the presentation, will focus on the experiences of people living in temporarily occupied territories, particularly elderly individuals who remain in isolation and lose connection with the outside world, becoming dependent on the occupying infrastructure.

An additional topic of conversation will be the theme of recovery through memory. In situations of destruction, one’s own history, city, and experiences become an internal support for individuals. This discussion aims not only to address challenging topics but also to explore pathways for recovery and support.

The event will be opened by the director of the National Museum of History of Ukraine, Olena Zemlyana. The discussion will also feature Mariupol poetess Oksana Stomina, director of the Mariupol Library Viktoria Lisohor, director of the Mariupol Local History Museum Maria Slyota, psychologist Natalia Yakovenko, photographer Yevhen Sosnovskyi, and Vyacheslav Dolzhenko himself.

The book was prepared and published by the Mariupol Local History Museum with the support of the Mariupol City Council. The diary's author is Vyacheslav Dolzhenko, while the compilers are Vladyslav Vasylenko and Alevtyna Shvetsova. This publication not only documents important moments in history but also serves as a reminder of the strength of memory and the human spirit in the face of the most severe trials.