A Russian military strike on June 15 resulted in a fire at the Oleksandr Dovzhenko National Film Studio in Kyiv, leading to the destruction of Ukraine’s largest and oldest costume collection. The attack has drawn attention to the ongoing impact of military actions on cultural heritage.
According to Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy, Tetiana Berezhna, the assault specifically targeted one of the country’s oldest film studios. The strike ignited a fire that severely damaged the costume workshop.
Approximately 100,000 costumes and three million items of various clothing stored at the studio were lost in the incident. Additionally, other buildings on the studio’s premises sustained significant damage. Emergency services are currently on-site to manage the aftermath of the attack.
Berezhna emphasized that the Russian military is intentionally targeting not only civilian infrastructure and peaceful citizens but also cultural institutions that preserve Ukrainian identity, memory, and history. She described the destruction of these cultural centers as an attempt to undermine the uniqueness of the Ukrainian people.
On the same night, Russian forces also struck the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The attack resulted in a large fire, damaging the roof of the Assumption Cathedral. Fortunately, sacred items and liturgical objects from the Lavra were evacuated in time.
The recent Russian attack on Kyiv has caused significant damage to cultural heritage, including the destruction of a historic costume collection at a prominent film studio. This incident highlights the broader implications of military actions on Ukraine's cultural institutions.