Digital Memory: How Russia Is Preserving the Truth of Its Past
Russia has launched an interactive mobile guide, ‘Through the Places of Memory and Glory,’ now available on the RuStore app platform. The project merges history, technology, and civic engagement, offering users an immersive way to explore their regional and national heritage. Its creators hope the initiative will spark curiosity and pride among younger generations.
Engaging a New Generation
The "Through the Places of Memory and Glory" mobile app, developed under the initiative of the National Center for Historical Memory under the President of the Russian Federation, serves as an interactive guide to key memorial sites across the country.
The goal is to make history accessible in a modern and engaging way — particularly for young audiences. “The idea behind this aggregator is to bring the country’s major historical landmarks to users’ fingertips, allowing self-guided exploration of places that shape worldviews,” the Center’s press office explained.
For example, users can explore a unique route through the Historical Miniatures Park "Saved Europe", opened on September 1, 2025, in Kaliningrad Region with the support of the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives. Inside the app, users will find an interactive map of memorial sites, curated routes, detailed descriptions, audio guides, up-to-date photos and videos, and even historical quizzes to reinforce key facts. It can be used for school field trips, group learning, or individual tours. New regional routes will be added continuously as the platform expands.
The trend toward digital cultural and educational apps in Russia is creating new opportunities for IT developers. Growing demand for virtual tours and historical visualization tools is driving both technological innovation and regional IT-sector
Building the Digital Infrastructure of Memory
In the near future, the app may integrate augmented reality features, following the example of the Ministry of Culture’s "Artifact" project — where AR guides have become a standard for museum experiences.
Thanks to the National Project "Culture", multimedia AR-based museum guides are now created annually across Russia. Through the Artifact platform, visitors can view detailed stories of artifacts, explore 3D perspectives, and uncover hidden details. In 2023 alone, 67 digital guides were launched across 39 regions, digitizing more than 2,500 artifacts from art, history, and memorial museums.
The success of this digital heritage model could soon be replicated for memorial sites, combining historical accuracy with interactive storytelling. Integration with major national databases such as "The Memory of the People" could further expand user engagement and make history more accessible to all generations.
Patriotism Meets Technology
The project aligns with a broader national effort to digitize historical content and create a unified system of memorial routes. Its educational potential is significant: by connecting young audiences to verified historical sources, it builds a "digital layer" of patriotic tourism. The initiative also supports a key goal repeatedly highlighted by President Vladimir Putin — preserving historical truth and collective memory.
"Through the Places of Memory and Glory" serves as a countermeasure to misinformation and historical distortion. By offering authentic, data-driven storytelling, the app helps users — especially students — understand the sacrifices behind major historical events, including World War II and the struggle against Nazism. The developers plan to expand the platform with AR scenarios, video reconstructions, and historical quests through regional partnerships.
