Museum of Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi Battle was established according to decision of Council of People's Commissars of Soviet Union (USSR) on 28th of July 1945 for the perpetuation of the victory of Soviet forces in Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi Operation. The museum is situated in the former palace of Poniatowski-Lopukhins-Demidov families on the island of Ros river in Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi.

In January-February 1944 in Korsun-Shevchenkivsky took one of the major battles of World War II in Ukraine - Korsun-Shevchenkivsky Battle known in history as "New Stalingrad". During month operation troops of 1st and 2nd Ukrainian Fronts surrounded a large group of Nazi troops, destroyed 55 000 soldiers and officers of Wehrmacht and captured more than 18 000 prisoners.

In the creation of Museum of Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi Battle took an active part writer Dmitry Bedzik who became its first director. The first exhibition was opened in 1947 in 3 halls. In 1952 exposition had already 12 halls - an area of about 670 square meters. In 1969 to 25th anniversary of Korsun-Shevchenkivsky Battle was held re-exposition - on the area in front of the museum placed military equipment of Red Army of World War II:

• heavy tank IS-2
• medium tank T34-76
• self-propelled artillery SU-76
• armored troop-carrier BTR-40
• fighting machine BM-13 "Katyusha"
• vehicle GAZ AA
• fighter Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15
• 122 mm howitzer
• 160 mm mine-thrower

In 2001-2004 held one more re-exposition of Museum of Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi Battle based on of scientific concept of history of Second World War. The implementation plan made on the basis of submission of documents, photographs, weapons, uniforms and equipment of Soviet and German troops. The exhibition features more than 4000 exhibits.

In the lobby of Museum of Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi Battle there is exhibition for 70th anniversary of Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. In the first hall are exhibited materials which tells about the beginning of World War II - German aggression against Poland and Soviet Union and materials that were found during the reburial of German troops. The second hall contains exhibits of Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi occupation regime, resistance movement, liberation of Left Bank Ukraine. The third hall is about Crossing of Dnieper river and the beginning of Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi offensive. From the fourth to the seventh hall contains information on the progress of Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi operation to encircle and destroy German forces by troops of Red Army. In the eighth hall shows the final liberation of Ukraine, Eastern Europe and Victory Day Parade on Red Square in Moscow.

In the ninth hall is diorama "Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi Battle of 1944" which opened in 1969. The diorama dimensions: height - 4,4 meters, length - 14 meters.

Among the exhibits of Museum of Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi Battle is valuable uniform of Marshal Ivan Konev, personal belongings of German Lieutenant-General William Stemmermann, German military uniforms and weapons, Soviet military uniforms and weapons. In a central tenth hall exhibited battle painting exhibition and letters from the front of Second World War.

Poniatowski-Lopukhins Palace and Park Complex in Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi

In the district center of Cherkassy region in Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi on beautiful granite island in the middle of Ros river is a wonderful architectural and historical ensemble - Poniatowski-Lopukhins Palace.

It is located on the site of ancient settlement called "Korsun". At the end of XVIII century lands of Korsun owned by Prince Stanislaw Poniatowski (1754-1833) - a relative of the last Polish King Stanislaw August. In 1782 he conceived to arrange on granite island his suburban residence. The architects were Jean-Henri Müntz and Yang Lindsay. For the year was built single-storey outbuilding which is then connected to the palace by galleries.

Poniatowski Palace became the flagship of the new style - this is the first Neo-Gothic building on the territory of former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth with stylistic influences of Eastern, Byzantine and Gothic styles. In 1789 Poniatowski Estate consisted of landscaped park of 97 hectares on three islands of Ros river, palace, galleries, two stables and three outbuildings.

In 1799 after the last partition of Poland when Korsun became part of Russian Empire Poniatowski Estate was bought out by Emperor Pavel I and presented to Minister of Justice - Prince Peter Lopuchin.

Under his son Pavel Lopukhin (1835-1840) the estate was rebuilt by unknown architect so Poniatowski-Lopukhins Palace got the elements of Russian Romanticism with a touch of Neo-Gothic and Classical styles. Entry gates was constructed in the style of medieval castles. There were built swiss cottage, Lutheran chapel, stables and an orangery. Poniatowski-Lopukhins Estate complex in Korsun was considered one of the most beautiful in Europe.

In the 2nd half of XIX century Korsun was owned by Prince Nikolai Lopukhin-Demidov and the estate again was changed: being completed second floor over the one-story outbuilding, built two chapels, estate manager house and prince bath. The authors of the restructuring remained unknown.

The last owner of Poniatowski-Lopukhins Palace was Olga Lopukhin-Demidova - second cousin of famous statesman Pyotr Stolypin from 1910 to 1918 who then emigrated in Germany before coming to power of Bolsheviks in Korsun. The only reminder of Olga Lopukhin-Demidova is a small monument raised her after the death of her beloved dog.

You could visit Ukraine Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi Sights | Museum of Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi Battle | Poniatowski-Lopukhins Palace with Ukraine Tour | East Ring