Destruction Of Ukrainian Cultural Heritage By The Russian Aggressor As A Direct Abidance Of The Soviet War Against Ukrainian Identity

Abstract

The article discusses the problem of destruction of Ukrainian cultural heritage in the context of the general war against both the Ukrainian national identity and the state waged by the Russian aggressor.
The author underlines that the deliberate destruction of Ukraine’s cultural heritage in the current military and political situation is an integral part of Russia’s chauvinistic policy and neo-imperial course, which is ostensibly aimed at protecting the interests of the Slavs, but in reality is aimed at destroying the Ukrainian identity.
The author provides substantial evidence that the neo-imperial Russian regime is deeply rooted in the Soviet regime proved by common political course of denationalization of Ukrainians as well as common political path to create a dictatorship and intimidation by terror, which was implemented by the Soviet Empire of Evil.
The article presents facts about the destruction of churches, i.e. national sources of spirituality, achievements of world-famous Ukrainian artists, burning of old prints and manuscripts, and looting of Ukrainian museums during the Soviet era. These facts became known due to the efforts of Ukrainian dissidents and the Ukrainian diaspora.
Similar examples of the destruction of Ukrainian cultural heritage are observed today: artefacts are illegally exported from the occupied Crimea; manuscripts, old books, museum collections are taken away; historical and architectural monuments are systematically destroyed. Those are examples not only of barbaric vandalism, but also of the deliberate attack on the national identity and originality of the Ukrainian people.