The exhibition includes 250 photos provided by the families of OUN-UPA members from personal archives, as well as from the archives of the museum.
On May 23, the Lviv Historical Museum opened the “Chosen” photo exhibition.
The exhibition is based on rare photos of members of the Ukrainian underground — the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. It was very dangerous to keep such photos, so every monument that has reached us is a priceless treasure. The photos harmoniously complement the memorials with their rich history. In the photo, you can see UPA soldiers in military uniform, mostly portraits in embroidered jackets.
The opening of the exhibition was timed to the Day of Heroes, which is celebrated in Ukraine today, May 23.
“Each of the Heroes depicted in these photos fought for the country we have today. Every era has its heroes. And we should pay them due respect. Ukrainians fought for their independence with blood and losses and are now fighting for it.
Today, like all Ukrainians, I want to live in a free European country where there is no racism, fascism, or Moscow patriarchy. Instead, our children should clearly know who Konovalets, Bandera, Shukhevych are. And thanks to such photo projects as “The Chosen Ones”, we can get to know the Heroes, learn their names, remember the faces of those who fought, were connected, and fought to the last for the future of Ukraine,” Ivan Sobko noted.
In addition to photographs, the exhibition hall presents exhibits from previous exhibitions: household items of soldiers (clothes, embroidered towels, newspapers, boxes, notebooks), informational materials of the OUN-UPA (postcards, etc.), a blue-yellow flag that belonged to Stepan Bandera, kerosene lamp, camera (20-30 years).
“Why underground OUN and UPA? According to the UPA commander Koval (V. Kuk), no one disbanded the UPA, there was no demobilization, and the last battle is still ahead. Today, the UPA is all of us – true patriots, regardless of party and political affiliation, everyone for whom Ukraine is above all else, who cannot betray the memory of our hero-fighters,” the museum notes.
As the director of the museum, Roman Chmelyk, emphasized, every photograph found in the family’s archive by the Soviet authorities could result in the death or eviction of the entire family. Saving such photos is an extraordinary act of close members of the OUN-UPA.