16.01.2023
Russia is systematically destroying Ukrainian cultural heritage.
The More than Poland Foundation is involved in helping to save works of art and monuments in Ukraine. We cordially invite you to cooperate – even the smallest amount matters…
Account number 45 1160 2202 0000 0002 7051 1460
BIC/SWIFT: BIGBPLPW
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Russian aggressors have been destroying architectural monuments, dropping bombs on sanctuaries and churches, and stealing valuable collections from museums. The Ukrainian government portal of the Center for National Opposition (a website informing the population about resisting the occupiers and helping the defenders of Ukraine) alerts that the Russian occupiers are stealing and taking exhibits from museums from the occupied areas of the Kherson Oblast in southern Ukraine. According to the Ukrainian underground, the Russian authorities sent an order to all museums in the temporarily occupied territories to prepare valuable exhibits to transport them to Russia.
This is not the first Russian theft of works of art belonging to Ukraine. In May this year, it was loud about the theft of priceless Scythian gold from 2,300 years ago from the museum in Melitpol. The Russians stole at least 198 gold items, including flower ornaments and gold plates. As The Guardian writes, “international experts believe that a specialized gang, acting on behalf of the occupiers, is engaged in looting Ukrainian museums, with the goal of depriving Ukrainians of their historical and cultural identity.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/12/specialist-gang-targeting-ukrainian-treasures-for-removal-to-russia
UNESCO maintains a register of Ukrainian cultural monuments destroyed by Russian attacks. As of October 17, 2022, damage to 204 objects was verified and confirmed, including 87 places of worship, 13 museums, 38 historical buildings, 38 buildings dedicated to cultural activities, 18 monuments, 10 libraries. Most of the objects were destroyed in Kharkiv and Donetsk oblasts. https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/damaged-cultural-sites-ukraine-verified-unesco
The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine also publishes a list of ruined monuments. There are over 500 objects on it. https://culturecrimes.mkip.gov.ua/ No one has any doubts anymore that the Russian occupiers are destroying Ukrainian culture on purpose.
This is what the interior of the Uspenski Cathedral (Dormition of the Mother of God Cathedral) in Kharkiv looks like after the Russian shelling.
The Orthodox temple is the most valuable monument of sacral baroque in Ukraine. As a result of the Russian shelling, one of the walls of the Cathedral was breached, the glass in all the windows was blown out, and part of the interior near the altar was damaged.
More than 50 historical buildings were destroyed in the Kharkiv region. In the very center of Kharkiv, Russian shells destroyed the Masłowski House of Income, a historic Art Nouveau building built in 1911. For the last 10 years, the building housed the famous art pub “Stariy Hem” – a center of creative people, where poets and musicians performed. There were flats on the floors above the pub. On March 14, 2022, a Russian rocket destroyed the entire central part of the building, including the ceilings. Two people staying in the apartments died under the rubble.
In the photos below, the Church of the Ascension of the Lord in the village of Bobryk in the Sumy region.
Before and after the Russian attack.
The inhabitants of Ukraine are trying to document all the crimes committed by the Russian invaders. Also, those in which objects of culture and national heritage are victims. They also do their best to protect those monuments that have not yet suffered.
The More Than Poland Foundation is actively involved in helping in these activities. From the first days of the war in Ukraine, we provide the necessary materials and cooperate with local volunteers in securing monuments and works of art so that they are not destroyed or plundered by the Russians. We operate primarily in Western Ukraine, where many monuments are a testimony to our common Ukrainian-Polish history.
If you would like to establish cooperation with the Foundation, please contact:
MORE THAN POLAND FOUNDATION, tel. +48 58 354 11 37, fundacjawnp@gmail.com
Finally, something optimistic: President Volodymyr Zelensky officially asked for the historic center of Odessa to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This would open Odessa’s access to extraordinary international aid mechanisms to strengthen its protection and possible reconstruction assistance. Everything indicates that UNESCO will soon decide on this matter and the colorful, multicultural port city on the Black Sea will soon be included in the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage List.
Our hometown of Gdańsk has also applied for inclusion of the historic city center in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. We’ve been waiting since 2015. But we won’t feel hurt if Odessa overtakes us ?.