At the end of February 2022, barely a week after the outbreak of war, images of a Ukrainian museum bombarded by the Russian army ignited social networks. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry says ‘nearly 25 canvases by outstanding artist Maria Primatchenko’, whose naïve art inspired Chagall and Picasso, burned in this deliberate attack on the local history museum in Ivankiv, near from Kyiv.
Satellite images have confirmed that the Russian strikes were specifically targeting the institution. A gouache by Maria Primachenko – a prominent Ukrainian modernist painter – depicting a dove later became a powerful symbol for peace. Ukraine has thus turned to its cultural heritage to overcome the war, while Vladimir Putin has tried to convince the world that it forms “one people” with Russia.
“In this time of crisis, Ukrainians need their habits, practices and traditions. They must be able to recognize their roots to keep their spirits up,” explains Krista Pikkat, head of UNESCO’s Culture and Emergencies Service, in an interview with The duty.
The damaged heritage
Mme Pikkat recalls, however, that Ukrainian culture has been in “serious danger” since the start of the invasion. Last July, she led a mission to assess the repercussions of the war on the cultural sector. UNESCO has listed, to date, 227 cultural sites and 2827 educational establishments damaged. The situation “is likely to get even worse,” said Ms.me Pikkat, in a press conference, on his return from his mission.
The future proved him right. In late November, when Ukrainian authorities regained control of Kherson after more than six months of Russian siege, they discovered that the city’s art museum had been looted. ” [Les Russes] took almost 80% of the museum’s collection and a large part of another museum’s collection — the most expensive paintings, collector’s items,” said Ukrainian Culture Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko indignantly.
“Remarkable efforts”
UNESCO is now working with the Ukrainian government and non-governmental organizations to preserve the country’s cultural heritage. From the first days of the invasion, the local authorities made “remarkable efforts” to protect churches, museums and monuments, “especially in Lviv”, says Krista Pikkat.
Largest city in the west of the country, far from the front, Lviv has established itself as one of the main bastions of Ukrainian culture. Sandbags still surround the city’s monuments to protect them from bombing. Tarpaulins and tin plates still cover the windows of some churches. Museums, including the National Museum in Lviv, were also emptied as a preventive measure.
Mme Pikkat adds that Ukraine’s “intangible heritage” is also subject to significant conservation measures. “The first lady of Ukraine told me how touched she was that UNESCO added Ukrainian borscht to its list of intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding”, she says, by way of example. .
The war not being over, Ukraine is still trying, by all means, to protect its culture. The historic center of Odessa – a large city that has been bombed many times -, famous for its Potemkin staircase, could also be added to the UNESCO World Heritage List, “from 2023”, indicates Ms.me Pikkat. Seven Ukrainian sites are currently listed.