The Kharkiv Art Museum has launched an emergency fundraising campaign following severe damage caused by a Russian drone strike on June 14.
While the museum’s most valuable artworks were evacuated in 2022 as a precaution during the war, the attack caused significant destruction to the historic building and damaged parts of its remaining collection.
Museum officials are now appealing for public support to help preserve one of Ukraine’s most important cultural institutions.
Building Suffers Extensive Damage
The museum shared images of the destruction on its official social media channels, revealing the scale of the damage caused by the strike and the subsequent fire.
Photographs show collapsed ceilings, flooded interior spaces following firefighting operations, shattered windows and several rooms that were completely destroyed by fire.
Emergency responders and museum staff worked together to contain the blaze and salvage any remaining property and cultural assets.
Thousands Of Cultural Items Affected
According to Oleksandr Kostin, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Tourism of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, approximately 1,000 museum objects were damaged as a result of the attack.
Although many of the institution’s most valuable artworks had previously been relocated to safer locations, the strike still affected a significant number of cultural and historical items.
The full extent of the damage is still being assessed by museum specialists.
Urgent Conservation Work Required
The museum says immediate conservation measures are now required to protect surviving sections of the building and prevent further deterioration.
Priority work includes clearing fire-damaged areas, stabilising the structure and protecting exposed sections of the building from rain and other weather conditions.
Without urgent intervention, officials warn that additional damage could occur to both the building and surviving museum collections.
Appeal To Preserve Cultural Heritage
The museum’s administration has called on supporters in Ukraine and abroad to contribute to the recovery effort.
In its appeal, the institution stressed that every donation, regardless of size, will help preserve an important part of Ukraine’s cultural heritage.
The fundraising campaign aims to support emergency stabilisation work, restoration efforts and the long-term recovery of the museum following one of the most serious incidents it has faced since the beginning of the war.
