Ukraine’s first ATO Museum

The Museum of the Anti-Terrorist Operation is a landmark memorial complex in Dnipro, dedicated to the contemporary history of Ukraine. Officially known as the "Civic Exploit of Dnipropetrovsk Region," it became the first museum of its kind in the country, blending classical museum serenity with a powerful outdoor exhibition.

Museum of the Anti-Terrorist Operation. Иллюстрация. Источник: Kupi.com AI

The complex is located in the building of the famous "Battle for the Dnieper" diorama and is divided into two parts. The first is an indoor exhibition featuring personal belongings, documents, and multimedia installations. The second is a large-scale open-air exhibition titled "On the Roads of Donbas," which brings together over 5,000 artifacts, including military equipment that has seen real field use.

The museum is part of the Dmytro Yavornytsky National Historical Museum of Dnipro. Its value lies in its deeply humanistic approach: it tells stories not just about machinery or tactics, but about the lives of individuals, volunteers, and medics, highlighting the importance of civic courage and human mutual aid.

To confirm up-to-date information before your visit or to book an organized tour, you can use the official contact details of the institution. The museum is an important part of the city's cultural network, and its staff is always ready to help visitors navigate the exhibition.

Below is the primary contact information for the museum complex administration:

Your visit begins with the impressive outdoor exhibition, where you can closely examine samples of military equipment, captured gear, and numerous artifacts found in the field. Each piece of equipment is accompanied by information boards that help explain the historical context and the scale of the events.

Inside the building, be sure to visit the main exhibition, which presents evidence of the civic exploit of the region's residents. The large-scale diorama, reconstructed using modern technology, deserves special attention. Thanks to multimedia projectors, the classical canvas literally comes to life, creating an immersive effect and plunging the viewer into the atmosphere of historical events with an emphasis on the personal experiences of the participants.

For those interested in history and military themes, this site offers rich material for study. Here you can take memorable photos, attend temporary lectures, or thematic events. The museum encourages reflection, and its high rating among tourists confirms that the exhibition leaves no one indifferent.

The museum complex is located in the very heart of Dnipro at 16 Dmytro Yavornytsky Avenue. Thanks to its central location, it is easily accessible by private car or public transport from any part of the city.

If you prefer public transport, take trams No. 1, 6, 7, or 16, as well as trolleybuses and numerous shuttle buses (marshrutkas) heading to the "Yavornytsky Museum" stop. From the central railway station, a trip on tram No. 6 takes about 15–20 minutes, while those who enjoy walking can reach the site in about half an hour.

For those traveling by taxi or private car, the historical museum building and the nearby embankment serve as excellent landmarks. Traffic density in this area is usually high, so it is advisable to allow extra time to find a parking space on the adjacent streets.

This unique project was initiated in early 2016 and became the first of its kind in Ukraine. The exhibition is housed within the building of the famous "Battle for the Dnieper" diorama, which was constructed back in 1975. In this way, different pages of the region's military history are brought together in a single space.

The museum's creation took place in two stages: the large-scale outdoor exhibition "On the Roads of Donbas" opened in May 2016, followed by the indoor exhibition which welcomed its first visitors in January 2017. A significant milestone was the 2018 renovation of the historical diorama, where modern multimedia effects were added to the classical canvas, shifting the focus not only to the scale of the battles but also to the personal stories of those involved.

Today, the museum is integrated into the structure of the Dmytro Yavornytsky National Historical Museum of Dnipro — one of the oldest scientific institutions in the country, founded in the mid-19th century. This allows contemporary events to be viewed within the context of the region's centuries-old history, from the Scythian era to the present day.

Typically, visitors spend between 1.5 and 2.5 hours for a detailed exploration of the museum complex. This is enough time to leisurely examine both the outdoor equipment exhibition and the internal halls with thematic displays.

If you plan to carefully study the information boards and watch the multimedia presentation in the diorama hall, we recommend allowing about 3 hours in your schedule. For those with limited time, you can focus on the "On the Roads of Donbas" outdoor exhibition, which takes approximately 40 minutes to view.

The museum is open to visitors daily, which is very convenient for tourists planning their itinerary. The doors of the complex are open from 09:00 to 18:00 without lunch breaks or days off.

Despite the stable schedule, we recommend checking the official website of the historical museum before your visit. This will help ensure that there are no maintenance works or private special events scheduled for the day of your visit.

The location in the historical city center allows tourists to combine a visit to the museum with a tour of other interesting local attractions. A stroll through the surrounding area will help you better feel the atmosphere and diversity of the region's cultural life.