11 km from Putivl, in the Spadshchanskyi Forest, stands the Museum of Partisan Glory. It tells the story of the partisan detachment that began operating right here in the autumn of 1941 under the command of Sydir Kovpak, Semen Rudniev, and Hryhorii Bazyma, and later grew into a large formation. The museum is a branch of the Putivl State Historical and Cultural Reserve.
Museum in the Forest
The museum was opened in 1956, and in 1965 the Spadshchanskyi Forest was declared a historical and cultural reserve. In 1986, the museum became part of the Putivl Reserve. For the 70th anniversary of the detachment's creation in 2011, the state allocated funds for a major overhaul of the museum and the neighboring museum of weapons and military equipment, and a new exposition was created in 2021.
What is in the Exhibition
The museum stands on the site where the detachment was based. It houses personal belongings of the commanders, Kovpak's tachanka cart, and the typewriter used to type the first orders. The exhibition features weapons and ammunition, hundreds of photographs, and documents about Nazi crimes in the Sumy region. Near the museum stands a 76-mm F-22 gun.
Spadshchanskyi Forest
The Spadshchanskyi Forest is a large forest area in the Seim River valley. Nearby is Lake Spadshchanske, a hydrological natural landmark included in the Seimskyi Regional Landscape Park. Today, the forest is interesting both as a historical site and simply as a beautiful old forest above the Seim River.
How to Get There
The museum is located in the Spadshchanskyi Forest, 11 km from Putivl, near the villages of Spadshchyna and Nova Sharpivka. It is best to get there by car. Combine your trip with a visit to Putivl: the Molochansky Monastery, the Holy Spirit Monastery, and the Church of St. Nicholas the Cossack.
Things to Consider
The Putivl region is a border area that is subject to shelling. Before your trip, check the security situation, the restrictions of the Sumy Oblast Military Administration, and whether the museum is open.
