Destruction, Preservation, and Rethinking of Ukraine’s Urban Cultural Heritage during the Russo-Ukrainian War

Abstract

The article explores a range of problems relating to the destruction, preservation, and rethinking of Ukraine’s urban cultural heritage in the course of the ongoing Russian invasion. The author stresses that today protection of heritage remains an important aspect of Ukraine’s cultural policy. Since 2014, Russian military aggression has caused significant destruction in Ukrainian cities. The criminal actions of the Russian troops in Ukraine exhibit characteristics of urbicide, as they are aimed at destroying heterogeneous cultural and symbolic urban space and the diversity of the urban cultural heritage. According to experts, as a result of the Russo-Ukrainian War, the cultural heritage and cultural infrastructure of Ukraine will have suffered the heaviest destruction and damage since the Second World War. The article notes that under these conditions, new strategies for the protection of cultural heritage are being developed in Ukraine. Various public initiatives, the volunteer movement, and assistance from international organizations all play important roles. In general, Ukraine needs long-term support in the area of cultural heritage protection. Given the diversity and multifaceted nature of the country’s cultural heritage, we need to employ a variety of approaches and technologies to preserve it effectively. In particular, digital technologies, including the digitization of artifacts, should improve the record-keeping in this sphere and help keep track of the country’s cultural heritage. The author argues that the Russian aggression has led to a “turn” of sorts in the understanding of, and attitude towards, cultural heritage in Ukraine. The search for and revival of traditional components of national culture, as well as critical rethinking of the Russian imperial and Soviet heritage, are gaining more public prominence. In connection with this, the article touches on the new wave of toponymic changes in Ukrainian cities provoked by the full-scale Russian invasion, as well as on such developments as the dismantling of a certain category of urban monuments, reformatting of museum exhibits, etc.