Preservation of the museum heritage of Ukraine in the context of emphasizing national identity

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to to show the need to preserve the museum heritage of Ukraine, to emphasize the importance of this process for Ukrainian national identity in the conditions of the Russian-Ukrainian war. The methodology is based on the use of observation methods in relation to a wide set of data, specific facts; theoretical research method; the survey method, the method of systematic analysis of socio-economic phenomena, which made it possible to identify the main interrelationships and predict further development. The application of forecasting methods in the research will ensure the identification of prospects for the development of the museum business in Ukraine. Scientific novelty. The facts of the destruction and looting of museum institutions since the beginning of the full-scale Russian aggression have been considered. The condition of some museums of Ukraine in war zones is described. During the study of the topic, an attempt was made to solve the following tasks: to highlight the most resonant examples of damage and destruction by the Russian occupiers of museum heritage objects in the specified period; analyze these examples through the prism of statistics, scientific articles and journalistic evaluations; consider the public outcry that arose in connection with the facts of the destruction and looting of museums in war zones. Conclusions. The protection of cultural heritage sites as material manifestations of the centuries-old history of the Ukrainian people has become one of the strategic directions in resisting enemy expansion. Effective protection of Ukrainian cultural objects should be based on the experience of countries that have faced similar challenges and on modern mechanisms of international law, according to which Ukrainian cultural heritage is an integral part of the world’s cultural heritage. Due to the impossibility of physical access, the protection of monuments in the temporarily occupied territories is limited to political statements, monitoring the situation and documenting crimes against cultural objects. The tactics of conducting hostilities taking into account the value of cultural heritage objects and obtaining basic knowledge on the protection of monuments by servicemen of NATO armies deserve special attention in the context of offensive operations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.