Before retreating from the western Kherson region, Russian invaders not only mined critical infrastructure objects, residential buildings and medical institutions, but also plundered the cultural fund of the region. In particular, they took approximately 15 000 paintings to occupied Simferopol, according to the Center of National Resistance.
Shovkunenko Regional Art Museum in Kherson, which boasted a large, rich collection no other regional Ukrainian museum possesses, was affected the most. It was reportedly fully looted by the Russians over the last couple of weeks despite the efforts of the museum’s director to preserve the collection. Artefacts from the Kherson Regional Museum of Local Lore were also stolen, and the museum experts believe that this crime had been planned for many years before the Russian large-scale invasion.
This is not the first time Russia is looting Ukrainian art – in 20th century, the colonial policy of the Soviet and Nazi authorities had already been after Ukrainian cultural heritage. Significant numbers of Ukrainian art works, music collections, archives, etc. were taken by the occupation authorities and are now presented in the most prestigious Russian state museum galleries and private collections. The international community should not turn a blind eye to this repeated crime and bring Russia to justice.
UKRAINE IN FLAMES project is created by Ukraine Crisis Media Center and NGO “Euroatlantic Course”. We are aiming at searching a loud support for Ukraine in the war started by Russia on the 24th of February 2022.
If you want to support Ukraine against Russian aggression, check the link with recommendations by Ukraine Crisis Media Center – https://uacrisis.org/en/help-ukraine.
NGO Euroatlantic Course collects donations to support Ukrainian Army and civilians – https://eac.org.ua/en/main-page/.
How you can help Ukraine against Russian aggression:
👉🏻 Come back alive – https://bit.ly/3Ct6O2L (works directly with the command and personnel of military units, purchasing infrared thermal imaging cameras, night vision goggles, hemostatics etc);
👉🏻 CO Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation – https://bit.ly/3Svas1G (purchases supplies for Ukrainian army, such as armor, ammunition, first-aid kits, cars and ATV, humanitarian aid for civilians, and food for animals);
👉🏻 UNITED 24 – https://bit.ly/3M2mXiT (was launched by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the main venue for collecting charitable donations in support of Ukraine. Funds will be transferred to the official accounts of the National Bank of Ukraine and allocated by assigned ministries to cover the most pressing needs)
👉🏻 Army SOS – https://bit.ly/3UYK168 (manages purchases of necessary ammunition, shields, intercommunication and reconnaissance facilities, etc. and delivers all goods directly);
👉🏻 Vostok SOS – https://bit.ly/3Ruut75 (raising funds for various needs of the army);
👉🏻 Phoenix Wings – https://bit.ly/3RvWSd0 (the appropriate equipment & uniform, personal non-lethal protection (vests, helmets), required treatment of the wounded soldiers, and repair of the buildings used by the army).
