London’s Museum to Exhibit Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Gates in Landmark 2026 Project
The Victoria and Albert Museum in London will showcase historic gates from the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra next year as part of an upcoming cultural partnership between Ukrainian and British institutions.
The Gaze reports this, referring to a post by Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Kingdom Valerii Zaluzhnyi.
Zaluzhnyi said the project underscores the significance of cultural heritage at a time when Ukraine continues to defend its identity amid Russia’s full-scale invasion.
“Culture is another front. Here, instead of explosions, there is the quiet of museum halls, and instead of trenches, there are display cases,” he wrote. “This is where the world decides whether it will remember who we are.”
According to the ambassador, standing before the Lavra’s ancient gates in London brings a deeper understanding of how Ukrainian cultural heritage has long faced attempts at erasure and appropriation.
The gates, removed from Ukraine in the 1920s, will be displayed publicly as part of what Zaluzhnyi described as a landmark collaboration between leading Ukrainian museums and the V&A.
“For me, this is about more than an exhibition. It is about the right to our own history and about ensuring that Ukraine’s voice grows stronger around the world,” he added.
Zaluzhnyi expressed gratitude to the V&A team and to the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra’s leadership, noting that major cultural initiatives would not be possible without “people who believe in the power of culture even in times of great war.”
As The Gaze previously reported, British Princess Anne met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at St. Sophia’s Cathedral, a UNESCO world heritage site now listed as endangered.
Their talks centered on Britain’s ongoing support for Ukraine. During the meeting, Anne handed the president a sealed envelope bearing the red royal crest, widely believed to be a personal letter from King Charles III.
Read also on The Gaze: Discover Ukraine Online: Museums and Heritage Tours