New virtual tour of exhibition dedicated to heroism of participants of special military operation presented on Presidential Library's portal

The portal of the Presidential Library hosts a virtual tour of the updated exposition of the Military Historical Museum of Artillery, Engineering and Communications Troops Only together, Only forward!. The exhibition opened in the museum in an expanded form on February 19, 2025.

In 2023, the Military Historical Museum of Artillery, Engineering Troops and Communications Troops became one of the first museums in Russia to create a permanent exhibition dedicated to the feat of participants in a special military operation (SMO). It turned out to be very popular with visitors. A virtual tour of this exhibition is available on the Presidential Library's portal from anywhere in the world.

Over the past two years, the museum has received significant donations from the SMO area. This has allowed us to expand our previously opened exhibition, Only Together, Only Forward! with new exhibits.

The exhibition is divided into two parts. One part is dedicated to the armed forces of the Russian Federation and the two self-proclaimed republics, the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics. The other part shows what the enemy army is like.

There are more than 350 exhibits in the exhibition, including items donated by the relatives and comrades of fallen soldiers. Among these are personal belongings belonging to privates Igor Belyaev and Nikita Stepanov, sniper Alexander Fyodorov, and journalist Vladlen Tatarsky. They all lost their lives in terrorist attacks.

A significant amount of weapons used by the Russian army in the area of its military operations is demonstrated, including the Igla portable anti-aircraft missile system and the Kornet-E anti-tank missile system. Electronic warfare systems are also showcased. Anti-drone rifles, whose exact name is suppressors of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), were displayed not only as examples of a new type of weapon but also as a reminder of the exploits of those who used them on missions. One of these guns almost melted during battle after being used to shoot down an enemy UAV carrying out reconnaissance on the location of weapons and military equipment. Another vehicle equipped with an explosive device containing an incendiary mixture flew next, damaging the suppressor.

Among the exhibits are samples of uniforms and combat equipment from the first DPR militia and their leaders (2014). The "Warriors of Russia" exhibition complex brings together figures of a tanker, infantryman, sniper, pilot, and special forces soldier, all in full combat gear with equipment and weapons. Separate showcases display the uniforms of an anti-aircraft gunner and anti-drone operator, as well as armor protection for drone operators, among other items.

A new section of the expanded exhibition is dedicated to the armed struggle in the air. It features unmanned aerial vehicles of various types and purposes belonging to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), including those shot down by Russian air defense systems in the SMO area or captured as trophies, as well as the weapons used by the Russian army to combat them. Captured drones include Baba Yaga, Valkyrie, Fury, and Shchedrik, among others. On one of the Ukrainian drones, the identification mark Balkenkreuz, a special cross used by Nazi troops during World War II, is painted on the wing. Large and small domestic drones, such as Lancet, Orlan-10, and Granat-4, are also featured in the exhibition.

Another section of the exhibition shows how the rear helps the front. It introduces products from various companies that have been redirected to military needs. One example is a quadcopter-type unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) manufactured by Tambov Bakery, which was donated to the museum for the exhibition. The same company also donated a complete set of drone equipment to the museum, which can be seen in one of the exhibits. Other exhibits include fragments of camouflage nets designed for different seasons, woven by volunteers in St. Petersburg, as well as medicine and food packages collected by caring citizens to be sent to the front line. There are also touching drawings and letters from children supporting Russian soldiers.

The hall displays authentic flags from various branches of the armed forces that participated in the SVO, such as the DPR's very first flag. This copy was among the first hundred issued to members of the DPR's first parliament. It differs from the modern flag by its inscription Donbass Rus. Another relic is the flag from the Vostok Brigade, which was raised over the liberated Maryinka settlement. The numerous flags with images of Orthodox saints also attract attention. Volunteers specially created a consolidated flag for the battalions named after heavenly patrons for the new exhibition.

The tragedy of Donbass is vividly evidenced by the household items found at the site of settlements destroyed by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. One of these items is the body of a Petal anti-personnel mine, which was scattered over Donetsk in large numbers at the end of 2022. This is another confirmation of the inhuman cruelty of the Ukrainian regime towards their former citizens.

The exhibition also includes paintings dedicated to the theme of war, such as portraits of heroes and front-line sketches made on the battlefield. Some of these paintings were created specifically for the new exhibition, while others were donated to the museum by artists after temporary exhibitions.

A special feature of the exhibition is the display of objects obtained in the SVO zone, which demonstrate the direct involvement of NATO countries in the conflict in Ukraine. These include warheads and fragments of shells from the HIMARS multiple-launch rocket system, a Polish Fly Eye unmanned aerial vehicle, remnants of NATO 155 mm projectiles, launchers for Western-made grenade launchers, flags and badges of foreign mercenaries, and more.

The exhibits feature samples of Ukrainian nationalistic literature, badges, uniforms, weapons from the Armed Forces of Ukraine and nationalistic formations of Ukraine, as well as documents on the training of Ukrainian military personnel abroad.

Virtual projects are a rapidly developing area of activity for the Presidential Library, through which unique materials are made available to a wider audience. One can explore virtual tours and excursions on the Presidential Library's portal under the Exhibitions section at https://www.prlib.ru/about_exhibition.