Ukraine's Deputy Culture Minister, Ivan Verbytskyi, has emphasized the importance of culture in the country's resistance against Russian aggression.
What happened
According to Verbytskyi, Russia is attempting to destroy Ukrainian identity and claim Ukraine's cultural heritage as its own. He stated that culture is at the heart of the war and is a matter of national security, as it can be used as a weapon to influence other societies and spread narratives.
Verbytskyi noted that hundreds of cultural heritage sites in Ukraine have been damaged by Russia, and the Ukrainian government is working to protect and preserve these sites. This includes evacuating museum collections from war zones, stabilizing and preserving damaged buildings, and documenting and digitizing cultural objects.
The Deputy Culture Minister also highlighted the importance of culture in mobilizing society and providing a sense of resilience and healing during times of crisis. He noted that people in Ukraine are using culture as a way to maintain their connection to their identity and to find solace in difficult times.
Verbytskyi also discussed the removal of monuments to Soviet leaders and Russian writers, such as Alexander Pushkin and Mikhail Bulgakov, stating that these monuments were symbols of imperialism and were used to exert power over Ukraine. He emphasized the need to create a psychologically safe environment for Ukrainians, free from painful reminders of the ongoing aggression.
