In addition to the staggering human toll, the UK Museums Association writes that the cost to the country’s cultural heritage also has been devastating. According to reports from Ukrainian authorities and cultural agencies, more than 2,000 cultural institutions have suffered damage, and 334, about 16.5%, have been destroyed. These losses represent not just the destruction of physical structures but the erasure of historical memory and identity.
Ukrainians have been clear that they are not just under physical attack: their national and cultural identity is also being systematically targeted. Museums, historical sites, libraries, and places of worship have suffered immense damage, some reduced to rubble amid the chaos of war. Monuments that stood for centuries are now at risk of disappearing entirely, and with them, pieces of Ukraine's historical narrative.
Russian forces have been accused of intentionally targeting culturally significant sites, including historic buildings and museums, as well as orchestrating large-scale looting operations. These acts are considered war crimes under the Hague Convention of 1954, which prohibits the targeting and appropriation of cultural property during armed conflict
Additionally, hundreds of thousands of artefacts are believed to have been stolen from more than 40 museums in occupied or formerly occupied territories.
No matter how the war ends, Ukraine will face significant challenges in recovering its stolen heritage. In 2023, Russian authorities amended museum legislation to absorb Ukrainian museums into the Russian network, in effect barring the return of looted artifacts. This legal shift complicates international recovery efforts and signals a deeper strategy to claim ownership over Ukraine’s cultural history.
- Learn more in the full article by the UK Museums Association
