On 20 August, ahead of Ukraine’s Independence Day, the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights in Vilnius added Ukrainian to the languages in which it tells its story.

Ambassador of Ukraine to Lithuania Olha Nikitchenko, Minister of Culture of Lithuania Lukas Alsys, and Director of the Museum Ramunė Driaučiūnaitė officially presented the new Ukrainian-language audio guide, created as part of the global initiative of the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska.

The place where Ukrainian can now be heard carries particular significance. The Museum preserves the memory of Lithuania’s Soviet occupation, repression, deportations, resistance, and the Lithuanian people’s struggle for freedom. For Ukrainians, who today are defending their own independence against Russian aggression, this history is especially close and deeply resonant. From now on, Ukrainians living in Lithuania or visiting Vilnius will be able to discover this important chapter of Lithuanian history in their native language.

During the presentation, the Ambassador and the Minister of Culture listened in Ukrainian to part of the exhibition dedicated to the Lithuanian partisan movement and also toured the Museum’s exhibition. Representatives of the Ukrainian community also joined the event, including the Ukrainian Center, the International Ukrainian School in Lithuania, and Gravitacija Educational Space.

The new audio guide in Vilnius is the result of close cooperation between the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights and the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Lithuania, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

The initiative to introduce Ukrainian-language audio guides at leading museums, cultural institutions, and historical landmarks around the world aims to ensure the presence of the Ukrainian language in places where people discover the history, culture, and heritage of different countries. Today, the network already includes more than 125 Ukrainian-language audio guides in 59 countries worldwide.

This is already the fifth Ukrainian-language audio guide in Lithuania introduced as part of the First Lady of Ukraine’s initiative. Ukrainian is also available at the National Museum – Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, the Church Heritage Museum, on a sightseeing route through Vilnius, and on the Vilnius–Trakai route.

We sincerely thank the leadership and team of the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights, as well as the Ministry of Culture of Lithuania, for their openness to this initiative and their continued support for Ukraine.