Protection of Ukraine’s cultural heritage in the context of an aggressive war against its identity

Abstract

The article examines the issue of systematic crimes committed by the Russian Federation against Ukraine’s cultural heritage during its armed aggression since 2014, with a significant escalation following the full-scale invasion in 2022. The authors highlight the historical context of such actions, which dates back to the era of the Russian Empire (when Ukrainian artifacts were transported to Russian museums) and continues during the Soviet era, when many unique exhibits failed to return from temporary exhibitions in Moscow and Leningrad.
Particular attention has been given to contemporary challenges, including the destruction of architectural monumentsand churches, plundering of museum collections and transporting of cultural assets from temporarily occupied territories. The article analyzes cases such as the destruction of the Hryhorii Skovoroda National Museum, the Sviatohirsk Lavra and the Ivankiv Museum (alongside the looting of the Kherson Art Museum and the Mariupol Museum of Local History). The aggressor’s attempts to undermine Ukrainian national identity through the physical destruction of tangible and intangible cultural heritage have been critically assessed.
The article explores international mechanisms of response, including the activities of Interpol, World Customs Organization and UNESCO. It emphasizes their roles in documenting crimes, preventing the illicit trafficking of stolen cultural assets and coordinating efforts to return artifacts to their rightful owners. The necessity of establishing a specialized unit (or division) for combating the crimes against cultural property within the National Police of Ukraine,aimed (along other tasks) at monitoring, investigating, and collaborating with international institutions, has been substantiated.
The study underscores the importance of safeguarding cultural heritage as a fundamental pillar of national identity, contributing to the preservation of historical memory, societal unity, and global cultural heritage. The authors stressed upon the need for extensive cooperation at both national and international levels to counter cultural genocide, which has long-term devastating consequences for the Ukrainian people.