A number of paintings of renowned Ukrainian artist Maria Prymachenko were reportedly burnt during a Russian attack on Ivankiv Historical and Local History Museum.
The news came from a social media post by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. The Ivankiv museum was merely a few kilometres from the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, which has become a warzone since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began. Numerous videos and photos had been shared on social media that showed the museum engulfed in flames. One such video was shared by Emine Dzheppar (Deputy Minister of Cultural Affairs, Ukraine). Dzheppar also wrote a scathing post, saying “Having no culture of their own, [the Russians] destroy all the heritage of other nations.”
Maria Prymachenko is considered one of the most beloved artists in Ukraine. A self-taught prodigy, she was famous for the bright portrayals of mythical beasts from Ukrainian folklore. She also often incorporated images of real Ukrainians in her art. While Maria Prymachenko died in 1997, her art continues to feature in various aspects of Ukrainian public life, including murals and postage stamps. As such, the loss of her paintings (which could be as high as 25) is understandably a serious loss of the country’s art world. It was not confirmed if any other artworks in the museum were also destroyed.
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Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, the situation has only worsened in the latter country. While people are trying to either fight or flee the capital city, there have also been concerns around the destruction of art and cultural heritage. On the other hand, various museums, organizations and influencers have protested against Russia’s involvement in the war.
