His "Battle on the Ice" exposition is only made up of a few rooms, but has seen a surge in visitors since its inclusion on a list of "patriotic" tourist routes published by local authorities.It is one aspect of how Russia has sought to promote pride in its history and military conquests across public life since launching its Ukraine offensive in 2022.Authorities have launched more than 140 "patriotic" tourist routes since 2023, many aimed at highlighting historic victories by the Russian empire and Soviet Union.
The "Battle on the Ice" exposition has seen a surge in visitors since its inclusion on a list of "patriotic" tourist routes © Olga MALTSEVA / AFP
"Our museum is small, but recently we've been welcoming around 5,500 visitors a year," said 80-year-old Potresov, who moved from Moscow to the village of Samolva more than a decade ago to found the museum."The Battle on the Ice brought to a close what was history's first clash between Russia and the collective West," he added, using a term the Kremlin regularly employs to describe Moscow's NATO and European enemies.Among the exhibits on display at the museum are maps and replica helmets that schoolchildren are encouraged to try on.A teacher accompanying the class told AFP that they were visiting as part of a "patriotic education" assignment set by her school -- tasks that have become increasingly commonplace since Moscow launched its Ukraine offensive.
