Ukraine, all museums close due to conflict

In Ukraine, following the Russian attack that began in the night of Feb. 24 and the subsequent introduction of martial law by President Volodymyr Zelens’kyj, the country’s museums had to close to the public indefinitely. Throughout the day, the social channels of all major Ukrainian museums were filled with announcements notifying visitors of the closure until further notice.

Doors closed at the National Art Museum of Ukraine in Kiev, the first public museum in the country’s capital, founded in the late 19th century. The National Museum of History of Ukraine lets it be known that as of Feb. 24 the doors are closed but that it will continue activity on social media (“keep calm and win”: this is the phrase with which the museum concludes its communication). The Kiev Museum, in announcing its closure, lists a number of suggestions for citizens: “we urge you to: support the Ukrainian army; use official sources of information and evaluate information critically; do not give in to panic, anxiety and doubt; stay connected and close to your loved ones.” He closes with a “glory to Ukraine.” The Khanenko Museum, home to the country’s main collection of European and Asian art, urges the public to “remain calm” and “trust the armed forces.” Doors also closed at the Victoria Museum, which says it has closed its doors “because of the current situation.”

The Ukrainian capital is home to dozens of museums, and is one of the most vital cultural centers in Eastern Europe. But the rest of the country is also home to leading museums. Also closing their doors are museums in Lviv, a city near the Polish border not spared by the raids but still far from the hottest areas, and a center to which those who have decided to leave the capital in recent hours are heading. The State Museum of Natural History closes (“Due to the introduction of martial law, the museum is temporarily closed. Remain calm, resist.”), and calls for calm also come from the National Museum "Andrej Sheptytsky," which on Facebook lists all venues forced to close their doors. The “Borys Voznytsky” National Gallery, home to one of the most important art collections in Eastern Europe with paintings by Rubens, Bernardo Strozzi, Sofonisba Anguissola, Jacopo Zucchi, Gerrit van Honthorst, and a rich collection of Polish art, merely posts a flag of Ukraine on social media.

In Odessa, the National Museum of Oriental and Western Art, known because it houses an interesting collection of seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Italian art, with works by Guercino, Francesco Albani, Francesco Cairo, Alessandro Magnasco, and others, closes to the public, cancels all scheduled meetings and presentations, and lets it know that it will “engage in its first duty: to preserve the collection, the property of Ukrainian citizens.” And it does so with the hope “to meet again very soon.” The Odessa Museum of Fine Arts also closes and lets it know that “the staff is committed to protecting the collection.” And he issues the appeal, “be ready and united, we are all together, peace for Ukraine. See you soon at the museum.”

Finally, in Kharkiv, the country’s second largest city, the LitMuseum page announces its closure due to martial law and confidently informs that “scheduled events will be held after the victory,” urging the public to “not respond to provocations” and anyone reading to take care of themselves. No update, however, from the History Museum, whose last post, dated Feb. 23, promotes a museum activity, an embroidery class, that was scheduled for Feb. 26, with promotional ticket sales. Fragments of a living everyday life, present throughout the country, which were interrupted due to the war.

Pictured is a room at the Borys Voznytsky Art Gallery in Lviv. Photo by Jan Mehlich

Ukraine, all museums close due to conflict

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