Russia steals over 785 Ukrainian cultural heritage artifacts

Andrii Yusov, a representative of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, reported the information during the forum Genocidal Practices of the Russian Federation in Ukraine: From the Holodomor to the Russo-Ukrainian War, according to Interfax-Ukraine.

"Together with the Ministry of Culture and Ukrainian experts, the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine has created a database of looted Ukrainian heritage objects and those responsible for this. This is the Looted Heritage section on the War and Sanctions portal. As of today, the database includes 785 objects of Ukrainian cultural heritage," said Yusov.

At the same time, he noted that this is only the confirmed information, and the actual number is much higher and is likely to increase. Yusov explained that the objects were illegally appropriated by the Russians as part of the so-called 'museum evacuation' or archaeological excavations in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

According to Yusov, the list includes hundreds of paintings, most of which were stolen from the Kherson Art Museum and the Mariupol Art Museum, nearly one hundred sculptures found during excavations and illegally taken from Crimea to Russian museums, 80 pieces of jewelry, and more.

The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine added that the list of those involved in looting Ukraine's cultural heritage now includes 241 individuals and 42 legal entities, whose involvement in the crimes has been proven.

• Last year, the National Agency for Corruption Prevention, as part of the War and Art project, created the Looted Heritage database.