In Kyiv and Chernihiv Regions, the National Project “Routes of Memory” Has Been Launched
Ukraine has officially launched the national project “Routes of Memory”—a network of locations documenting the events of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The first routes are now open to the public in the Kyiv and Chernihiv regions.
Routes of Memory are not just tourist trails—they represent a documentary and physical memory of the war. It is a memorial space created to ensure the events that took place in Ukraine in the 21st century are never forgotten. Initiated by the State Agency for Tourism Development of Ukraine, the project aims to preserve facts, record crimes, and support the narrative of truth and resistance.
Pilot Route: Kyiv Region
In Bucha, Vokzalna Street witnessed mass civilian executions, and on the grounds of St. Andrew the First-Called Church, a mass grave with 116 bodies was discovered.
In Irpin, Romanivsky Bridge became a place of memory, as civilians were evacuated across it in March 2022. Other sites include the destroyed Irpinski Lipky residential complex, a car graveyard,and the central House of Culture.
In Borodianka, the entire central square with shattered apartment buildings has become a memorial site.
Each location features information boards, digital QR codes with event timelines, photo and video evidence. Specialized training has been conducted for guides in the Kyiv region to provide accurate storytelling of the events during the occupation.
Chernihiv Region: Expanding the Memory Route
The second region to join is Chernihiv. Several key locations are already included in the route.
In Yahidne village, the route goes through the local school where, in March 2022, Russian troops set up their headquarters. In the school’s basement, they held 380 local residents for 27 days, including around 70 children and 5 infants. People wrote their names on the walls, uncertain whether they would survive.
In Lukashivka, a church that Russian forces turned into an ammunition depot is part of the route. In the battle for the village on March 9, 20 Ukrainian soldiers were killed. Another location has been set up in Novoselivka village.
Two additional sites are under development: Chornovil Street in Chernihiv, damaged by airstrikes, and the Chernihiv Regional Historical Museum named after Tarnovsky, which houses key war artifacts.
The Project’s Core Goals:
-Crime Documentation: through memorialization, archiving of evidence, and creation of irrefutable historical memory;
-Global Communication: the routes are already being visited by international delegations, journalists, and humanitarian missions;
-Understanding and Resistance: it is Ukraine’s way of saying—we will not forget. We will not let the facts be distorted. We will give the war and our pain a physical form that cannot be ignored.
The Routes of Memory project continues to expand. In the near future, new locations will appear in Lviv and Kherson regions. Eventually, a route will exist in every region of Ukraine. Each community independently determines which sites best convey the truth of the Russia-Ukraine war to the world.
