How is Ukraine's cultural heritage being destroyed?
Late on May 7, 2022, a Russian missile landed on a museum in Ukraine, formerly the home of 18th-century poet and philosopher Hryhory Skovoroda. The Kharkiv region’s museum deputy director related the destruction: “Only Skovoroda’s statue survived; the walls were burned, and the roof was blown off. That it did is a miracle.
This incident fits a more significant trend of cultural devastation. UNESCO, the UN’s cultural agency, reports that since the start of the full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, 424 cultural sites in Ukraine have been destroyed. Apart from driving Ukrainians farther away from the Russian-dominated cultural sphere they shared under Soviet control, the damage has sparked an intense longing for their own cultural identity. One daily newspaper has characterized this longing as a “Ukrainian cultural boom.”
How extensive is the damage to cultural sites?
The war has seriously disrupted different kinds of cultural sites. Among the 432 damaged sites are one archive, 139 religious sites, 214 historically or artistically significant structures, 31 museums, 32 monuments, and 15 libraries. Most of the priceless relics of the Hryhorii Skovoroda Museum have been moved to safety in response to possible assaults. Given the cultural significance of Skovoroda, Ukrainians believe the museum was destroyed without any other clear objectives close by.
What challenges do museums face in occupied areas?
Ukrainian museums have had distinct difficulties in locations under Russian control, and the last days of Russian control of Kherson revealed the whole scale of plunder by their soldiers. Presumably, for “safekeeping,” loads of historical relics and artwork were removed. According to the Kherson Art Museum, 120 art pieces were shipped to another seized territory, Crimea. Still, the overall loss runs to more than 10,000 objects.
Russian troops have taken artifacts for propaganda use in certain seized areas. For example, a display of the contemporary history of Ukraine in Berdyansk has been changed, with one praising the “special military operation,” the Kremlin’s designation for the war against Ukraine.
How has the invasion affected cultural institutions?
The Faktor Druk printing company in Kharkiv, which supplied almost all Ukrainian book companies, was destroyed in May. Widely seen as a deliberate strike, the attack destroyed 50,000 books and claimed seven lives. Though not every cultural site has been specifically targeted, several have been struck because of their proximity to other objectives or their rendering useless for Ukrainian soldiers or authorities.
Cultural sites and resource damage have seriously strained Ukraine’s social fabric. Emphasizing the vital function of cultural institutions, the head of UNESCO’s desk in Ukraine said, “What I’ve seen is people truly yearning for culture and their cultural centers. They demand it for their resiliency and understand its significance to society. Healing trauma depends much on culture.
How is Ukraine experiencing a cultural awakening?
“Not just military targets and critical infrastructure, but also anything that allows Ukrainians to speak of their own identity and statehood,” Ukraine’s acting cultural minister says, believing the attacks are part of a purposeful effort to erode Ukrainian identity.
Notwithstanding the general devastation, Ukrainians have learned to cherish what is in danger. The deputy director of the Skovoroda Museum muses on this change: “It’s like in a relationship: to grasp what you’ve lost, it needs to be taken away. We are gathering around cultural values that each of us will pass on to the next generations, not around hostility or wrath. It offers us a flash of hope.
What role do music and community play in resilience?
Among the difficulties, Ukraine’s cultural community has responded vibrantly. Writers, musicians, and bands have surfaced; new plays open, and venues are humming with activity. Volunteers have been quite important not just in supplying necessary supplies but also in transporting musical instruments.
Children impacted by the conflict clearly show significant influence from music. Many have said that music transports them to a location free of bomb and siren noises, helping them emotionally. “For them, it’s the best medicine; simply to get away from reality and live in a world of beauty and happiness.”
Ukraine’s cultural resilience and the helping power of music and community provide a glimmer of hope and solidarity during the continuous war in these difficult times.
