Russia encourages museum visits to help residents connect with their past

Russia is actively promoting a sense of historical pride and celebrating past military triumphs as part of a broader national effort to foster patriotism since launching its offensive in Ukraine in 2022. This strategy is evident in the promotion of "patriotic" tourist routes and the increased focus on historical exhibits in museums across the country.

Authorities have launched over 140 "patriotic" tourist routes since 2023, many designed to highlight significant victories by the Russian empire and the Soviet Union. These routes often connect to historical sites and museums that align with the government's narrative of national strength and historical achievement.

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Our museum is small, but recently we’ve been welcoming around 5,500 visitors a year.

Historians like Vladimir Potresov, who founded a museum dedicated to the "Battle on the Ice," have witnessed a surge in visitors. Potresov's museum, though small, now welcomes around 5,500 visitors annually, partly due to its inclusion on these officially sanctioned patriotic routes. The "Battle on the Ice" itself is presented as a pivotal moment, marking the first clash between Russia and the collective West in history.

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The Battle on the Ice brought to a close what was history’s first clash between Russia and the collective We