In the wake of devastating Russian attacks on 14–15 June, cultural institutions across Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipro have suffered severe damage. Museums and heritage sites, including UNESCO-listed landmarks, have been directly affected in one of the most extensive assaults on Ukrainian culture to date.
Due to these attacks, the Ukrainian Museum Association (UMA) was unable to participate in our AR/ER-ENCR network meeting in Tbilisi. Our network stands in full solidarity with Ukraine and the UMA, whose work has become even more critical under these circumstances.
Since 2022, UMA has been at the forefront of protecting Ukraine’s cultural heritage, supporting museum professionals, safeguarding collections, coordinating emergency responses and building long-term resilience through digitisation, restoration and international cooperation. Today, as museum staff face immense pressure and shortages, UMA is mobilising urgently on the ground to respond to this latest wave of destruction.
At this critical moment, we reaffirm our support for UMA’s mission and for all those working tirelessly to preserve Ukraine’s cultural memory in the face of ongoing violence.
Cultural heritage is not collateral, it is identity, history and resilience. Its protection must remain a global priority.
