National Chornobyl Museum in Kyiv

• Address: 1 Khoryva Lane, Kyiv, near Kontraktova Square.
• The museum is a national research and cultural institution dedicated to the Chornobyl disaster.
• Documents, maps, photographs and everyday objects preserve the history of the area and its residents.
• As of October 26, 2026, the museum is temporarily closed due to shelling damage.
• Ukrainian airspace is closed.

The National Chornobyl Museum is devoted to the 1986 reactor accident, its causes and consequences, and the people affected. As a research and cultural institution, it combines historical documentation with remembrance of the communities shaped by the disaster. The exhibition includes declassified documents, maps, photographs and objects that bring everyday life in the abandoned settlements of the Polissia region into view.

The museum is at 1 Khoryva Lane, near Kontraktova Square in Kyiv. It is a standalone place of remembrance in the city, not a visitor stop within the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone. An organized trip to the Exclusion Zone is a separate journey, with its own permit and safety requirements.

As of October 26, 2026, the museum is temporarily closed due to shelling damage. Any decision to travel must take the nationwide situation into account.

The Kyiv city area encompasses a range of historical themes; the museum offering includes both the history of Ukraine and literature at the Bulgakov Museum. The Mariinsky Park and Khreshchatyk Park are urban outdoor spaces with a different character from museum interiors.

For a future cultural day in Kyiv, the Bulgakov Museum and Mariinsky Park offer distinct highlights. This makes it possible to explore literary history and spend time outdoors separately from engaging with the reactor disaster.

Any essential trip requires an independent safety assessment and sufficient time to allow for overland travel. Travel preparation, a realistic schedule and conditions for arrival and transport should all be part of the plan. Accommodation should suit the intended route and area of stay; the location of accommodation by destination is a practical factor.

What objects document life in Polissia?

The collection includes household items and cultural objects from abandoned settlements in the Polissia region. Alongside maps, photographs and declassified documents, they offer evidence of everyday life.

Where is the museum?

The museum is at 1 Khoryva Lane in Kyiv, near Kontraktova Square.

Is the museum currently open?

No. As of October 26, 2026, it is temporarily closed due to shelling damage.

Is the museum part of a trip to the Exclusion Zone?

No. The museum in Kyiv and an organized trip to the Exclusion Zone are separate destinations; access to the Exclusion Zone is subject to its own permit and safety requirements.