Motherland Monument and National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War

The Motherland Monument stands at Lavrska Street 24 in the Pechersk district of Kyiv, Ukraine, on the Dnipro hills. The stainless-steel statue, completed in 1981, rises about 102 metres and holds a sword and a shield. The Soviet hammer and sickle on the shield was replaced with the Ukrainian trident in 2023. Beneath the statue lies the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War, a large complex with halls covering the war years, a memorial hall and exhibits relating to the present war. Outside, the Alley of Military Equipment displays tanks, aircraft and artillery, and the surrounding park gives broad views over the river. A viewing platform at the shield level has been reported at an extra charge, and it may be closed after strikes or air-raid alerts. A full visit takes two to three hours, with the museum taking most of that time. The best photographic angles are from the lower plaza looking up at the statue, which gives a sense of the scale, and from the park paths with the river behind. Crowds peak at weekends and in summer, while weekday late mornings are quieter. Parts of the site have been damaged by strikes, so access to some areas can differ from what older guidebooks describe. The museum is reported open on weekdays from 10:00 to 19:00 and weekends from 10:00 to 20:00, closed the last Monday of the month, though visitors should verify on warmuseum.kyiv.ua. Entry prices are modest and unconfirmed for 2026. The monument is reached by bus or trolleybus along Mazepy Street from Arsenalna metro, or by taxi. The Holodomor museum and the Pechersk Lavra are within about 15 minutes' walk, so the three sites combine well into a single day in this part of Kyiv.