Ukraine Launches Coalition to Counter Russian Looting of Cultural Heritage
Ukraine has announced plans to establish a new international coalition aimed at combating the illegal removal of cultural property from the country during the Russian-Ukrainian war.
The Gaze reports this, referring to Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications.
The coalition will serve as a cross-sector platform bringing together state institutions, law enforcement agencies, international experts, and civil society to coordinate responses to cultural heritage crimes.
The initiative was presented by Deputy Minister for European Integration Andrii Nadzhos during a meeting at the National Museum of the History of Ukraine with representatives of the EU Advisory Mission, U.S.-based Curia Lab, the Security Service of Ukraine, and the Office of the Prosecutor General.
The meeting was part of preparations for an international conference on countering the illicit transfer of Ukrainian cultural assets, scheduled for September.
The event will focus on building national strategies for specialized units tackling heritage-related crimes, as well as enhancing their cooperation with government bodies and foreign partners.
Nadzhos stressed that protecting cultural heritage in the midst of war is a key priority for the ministry. “Each of us is doing unique work, but only by coordinating our efforts can we achieve real results. This is safeguarding national identity under armed aggression,” he said.
Research presented by Curia Lab, conducted with EU support, revealed that since the start of the full-scale invasion, Russia has illegally removed more than 650,000 items of Ukrainian cultural heritage, including museum artifacts, archives, books, icons, and artworks.
Investigators have identified at least 67 Ukrainian museums looted by Russian forces, with stolen items often re-registered in Russian state collections under altered descriptions and falsified origins. m
EU Advisory Mission representative Mathias Neuner warned that the disappearance of Ukrainian books, archival records, and artworks from occupied areas points to a systemic campaign to erase historical memory.
Read more on The Gaze: Ukrainian Art & Culture at Risk: Frontline Evacuations and Preservation Efforts