War against culture
Documenting the destruction and looting of Ukrainian art and cultural heritage due to the Russian invasion
“A nation's culture is its soul. To destroy culture is to destroy a people.”
Donetsk Academic Regional Drama Theater, Mariupol. Destroyed by airstrike on March 16, 2022.
Artworks
Destroyed and stolen artworks
Paintings, sculptures, icons and other cultural treasures that were destroyed or stolen as a result of the Russian invasion.
Cultural Institutions
Destroyed and stolen cultural institutions
Museums, galleries, libraries, theaters and other cultural institutions affected by the war.
Why this matters
Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, hundreds of cultural heritage sites have been damaged or completely destroyed. This systematic destruction is not merely collateral damage — it is a deliberate attack on the identity of the Ukrainian people.
This section documents every known loss: destroyed and stolen artworks, ruined museums, galleries, libraries and other cultural institutions. We preserve the memory so the world knows and never forgets.
