On June 18, on the sidelines of the 21st International Anti-Corruption Conference, the world's largest and most influential anti-corruption forum that brings together heads of state and government, civil society, and business representatives, the exhibition of the War Up Close virtual museum was opened.

Due to opportunities of virtual reality technology, participants from more than 30 countries of the world through their own eyes saw the deconstruction,  caused by the full-scale Russian invasion - cities turned into ruins and streets devoid of life.  

At the exhibition’s official opening, Ruben Lifuka, Chairman of the Board of the International Anti-Corruption Conference and vice president of Transparency International, said: "We must take responsibility for what is happening around us. The devastation and suffering caused by russia's war against Ukraine is a stark reminder of this. Thanks to modern technologies, this project allows us not only to observe but also to feel the large-scale consequences of the war, thereby consolidating an even stronger awareness of our responsibility."

"We are presenting the War Up Close virtual museum to the conference participants in an updated format and with new content. With the understanding that russia's current war against Ukraine is taking place not only on the front line, not only on the streets of our destroyed cities, but it is a war that the terrorist state is waging against the basic principles of democracy and international law. Therefore, today, more than ever, we must be united to bring security and respect for the rule of international law back to our common European home," said project representative Oleksiy Syvak at the opening of the exhibition.

Deputy Ambassador of Ukraine to Lithuania Viktor Hamotskyi, in turn, emphasized the need for partner countries to strengthen their comprehensive assistance to Ukraine to accelerate the common victory over the common enemy.

The event featured glasses with panoramic videos of the destruction, cardboards that allow you to feel as realistically as possible at the scenes of russian crimes in Ukraine with VR glasses and a smartphone, and an exhibition of russian army artifacts.

The event, which lasted for 4 days, attracted hundreds of visitors from all over the world - government officials, representatives of international and non-governmental organizations, diplomats, activists, and journalists. Among the guests of the stand were Daniel Ericsson, Executive Director of Transparency International, and François Valérian, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Transparency International. 

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the organizers of the International Anti-Corruption Conference who supported this idea and contributed to its realization in every possible way. 

Photo: Inga Juodyte