The article is devoted to defining the multifaceted activities of the university as a cultural hub at the city level in various situations, including crisis (war). The author outlines the main problems of the university's participation in urban culture in its study, preservation, and use. Based on the comparative method's application, the university's role in the development and preservation of cultural heritage during three periods - before, during the war, and after the war (prediction)- is revealed. The following criteria were used to compare these periods: the purpose of participation, methods, development, and implementation of cultural policy; development and implementation of public-private and public-public partnership in the field of culture, areas of work on preservation of cultural heritage; cultural activity in the communicative space; degree of use of communication platforms; the degree of participation in the development and preservation of cultural heritage, including city; degree of international cultural activity. In the conditions of globalization and postmodern social transformations, the self-governance and originality of the urban cultural space need to be more realized. In addition, the Russian-Ukrainian war led to profound transformations of both world and national cultural spaces. Therefore, the issue of cultural heritage protection in Ukraine is actively supported by the international community in terms of resources, legislation, and organization. And the university contributes to this in every possible way with its educational activities. A conclusion was made about the continuity of the university's goals, activities, and directions for studying, preserving, and using the city's cultural heritage at different stages. Therefore, it is expedient to consider the university's cultural activities in three periods - before, during the war, and after the war. Established social development has a cultural component and is possible in conditions of peace, resolution of humanitarian issues, and countering hybrid aggression as part of information warfare.