Khokhloma and Khaimars – a photo essay on the largest private weapons museum in southern Russia
Cannons and armored personnel carriers painted in Khokhloma style—and fragments of a HIMARS missile. A British tank from World War I—and a mural honoring the "heroes of the Air Defense Forces." All of these are part of a large museum located at the entrance to the town of Kamensk-Shakhtinsky in the Rostov region. It's called "Patriot"—the same as the park of the same name in Kubinka, near Moscow—and is listed as its branch. But this museum is privately owned and created by local businessman Vladimir Beschetny. In southern Russia, there's no weapons display larger, more diverse—and in some places, more cringe-worthy—than this one. Take a look at it in our photo essay!
In general, there are several interesting museums or spaces in Kamensk-Shakhtinsky - for example, the fairytale park Loga, also created by local businesses, is famous far beyond the Rostov region—and many who travel to the Black Sea stop in Kamensk just for this. Bogatyrs, a medieval castle, a blacksmith's workshop, a zoo—there's definitely something to see!
You can also take a look at museum "Legends of the USSR" was also created by Vladimir Beschetny. His collection will evoke powerful nostalgia in older generations. Furniture, tape recorders, televisions, records, clocks, posters, clothing—almost everything that made up the everyday life of a Soviet citizen is here. There's also an impressive collection of Soviet cars.
But we're talking about "Patriot," a "military-patriotic complex" occupying over a hectare. It opened in 2018 and is constantly being expanded. Previously, the museum was free for everyone, but now admission for adults is 300 rubles.
Russian bogatyrs greet the guests—evidently symbolizing the continuity of Russian military traditions. Armored vehicles securely protect the bogatyrs from behind.
The "Russian spirit" here isn't limited to the epic heroes. Several deadly vehicles in the museum are painted with folk patterns—like Khokhloma, for example. We don't know about the enemy, but our own—it's certainly impressive!
There are also patterns reminiscent of Gzhel. The cannon is aimed, as it should be, toward Western values.
The museum also has ordinary, unpainted weapons, from a wide variety of eras.
The museum houses a multitude of unique vehicles—not only from the Great Patriotic War but also from earlier times. For example, the first mass-produced Soviet tank, the T-18, is on display here. Fewer than a thousand of these tanks were produced, and today they look almost like toys. Naturally, they're still deadly.
The theme of early Soviet weaponry continues with the armored train—a menacing colossus, armed with cannons and machine guns. Next to it stands a light and maneuverable armored car. Of course, Lenin didn't ride one of these, but they're definitely close relatives!
The museum also houses even older vehicles. For example, a British heavy tank from World War I—the Mark 5. A fun fact: these tanks were built in two variants: with machine guns and a cannon (the "male"), and without (with machine guns only, the "female"). The one in Kamensk is clearly the "male."
The tank had a crew of eight, and it traveled at a speed of 6,5 km/h. The White armies of Denikin and Wrangel had similar weapons; fewer than a dozen of these remain in the world.
There are a lot of tanks in the museum, from the famous T-34 to more modern ones.
Aviation is also represented, and from different eras and varieties.
"Patriot" features the most famous Soviet combat aircraft: the Su-17, MiG-29, Su-24, Su-27, and others. Some of these models are still in service today—carrying death beneath their wings.
The museum's creators didn't forget about helicopters either.
Overall, the Patriot exhibit is very diverse. It features both well-known vehicles, such as armored personnel carriers and self-propelled guns, and rare examples of weaponry: engineering armored vehicles, mobile crossings, and even a snowmobile.
Not all the exhibits are on display outdoors. A nearby indoor exhibition displays dozens of items from soldiers' daily lives. Weapons, military uniforms, awards... There's even a recreated prototype of Joseph Stalin's office. Along with its wax occupant, of course.
The start of the "special operation" added new "exhibits" to the museum. As befits a "patriotic" complex, the events in Ukraine are interpreted by its creators exclusively in a propaganda vein.
For example, fragments of NATO weapons are on display – grenade launcher systems and the remains of shells and missiles.
"Before you are fragments of a HIMARS missile shot down by Russian air defense forces, fired by Ukrainian Nazis at a peaceful city in Donbas," the explanatory plaque reads.
There's also a piece of Ukrainian equipment—a Vepr armored car. It had almost no glass left, had been hit, and was on fire. The exhibit doesn't say what happened to the crew, but young museum visitors are likely expected to figure it out for themselves. Or at least not think about it at all.
But young (and adult) visitors can reflect on the price paid for trophies and the things that are later celebrated for centuries. The museum has its own Walk of Fame, featuring photos of dozens of soldiers who died in the Northern Military District. Among them is even a former Patriot officer, Alexander Bondarev, who volunteered for the "special operation."
Of course, the museum draws a direct parallel between the Soviet Military District and the Great Patriotic War.
A wall sculpture depicting Soviet soldiers is complemented by a modern panel: masked men with the recognizable "Z" markings on their uniforms look out from it.
And while the “special operation” is ongoing, all these exhibits will clearly not be the last ones here.
