On 20 March 2026, in Korpusnyi Park in Poltava, near the Monument of "Glory", the opening took place of the street information and exhibition project "Mazepa. Charles XII. Peter I. Top 10 Myths of Russian Propaganda". The event was timed to coincide with the 387th anniversary of the birth of Ukrainian Hetman Ivan Mazepa.
The project was implemented with the aim of popularising the events of Ivan Mazepa’s military and political campaign, as well as refuting Russian imperial and Soviet myths that for decades have shaped a distorted view of these historical events.
The exhibition was initiated by the State Historical and Cultural Reserve "Field of the Battle of Poltava". During 2025, a modern street exhibition was designed and produced, consisting of six double-sided and one single-sided information panels. These are situated around the Monument of "Glory" within Korpusnyi Park. The project was implemented with the support of Poltava City Council.
The outdoor exhibition is a continuation of the information banner project, which was first presented in 2021 at the Museum of the History of the Battle of Poltava with the participation of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance in collaboration with the reserve.
As part of the development of this theme, a 30-minute educational video was also produced, a brochure of the same name was published in 2024, and a themed tour entitled "The Ruler", dedicated to the figure of Ivan Mazepa, has been introduced at the Museum of the History of the Battle of Poltava and is held on a regular basis.
The exhibition examines and debunks key myths propagated by Russian propaganda, in particular regarding Mazepa’s so-called "betrayal", his political intentions, the support he received from the Cossacks, and interpretations of the events of the Battle of Poltava in 1709. Particular attention is paid to the topic of Ukrainian political emigration in the early 18th century, whose representatives were referred to as "Mazepists" by Russian historiography.
The project aims to promote a deeper understanding of historical events and the development of a critical attitude towards imperial narratives.
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