Since the onset of the full-scale war in Ukraine, more than 100,000 valuable artifacts have been evacuated from museums in the Kharkiv region. Some institutions have relocated their entire collections as a precautionary measure against the ongoing conflict.
According to Oleksandr Kostin, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Tourism for the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, the evacuation process has been systematic. “Each museum has been working on evacuation plans since 2022, prioritizing items based on their significance,” he stated. Museums in towns such as Vovchansk and Kupiansk have completely evacuated their collections, while in Izyum, nearly all artifacts have been removed, including those not initially deemed at risk.
Kostin detailed the evacuation hierarchy, noting that the most valuable items, categorized as of global significance, were removed first. This was followed by artifacts of national importance, and finally, local items were evacuated. Most of these items have been transported outside Ukraine to ensure their safety.
In addition to the evacuation efforts, plans are underway to construct a secure facility within the Kharkiv region to house cultural treasures. Kostin explained, “We have a project for building a shelter in the region. If realized, this facility will be classified as a civil protection structure, meeting all necessary standards to safeguard museum items without the need for further evacuation.” He emphasized that this would include items that are not eligible for evacuation.
The proposed project has already undergone expert evaluation, with an estimated construction cost of approximately 200 million UAH.
In related news, a recent drone strike in the Kyiv district of Kharkiv resulted in injuries to a one-month-old infant and five others, damaging the Kharkiv Art Museum.
The Kharkiv region has seen the evacuation of over 100,000 museum artifacts due to the ongoing conflict, with plans for a secure facility to protect remaining cultural treasures. The systematic evacuation prioritizes items based on their significance, with most artifacts relocated outside Ukraine.