The National Museum of Ukrainian History hosted a nationwide public discussion entitled ‘Frontline and Displaced Museums: Life in “Special Conditions”’. The event became an important platform for professional discussion of the challenges faced by museum institutions in the context of full-scale war, particularly in frontline and temporarily occupied territories.
The event was attended by representatives of state authorities, the museum community, academics and the general public. Key speakers included Deputy Minister of Culture of Ukraine Ivan Verbytsky and Head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance Oleksandr Alferov.
The discussion focused on the role of museums as institutions for preserving national memory, documenting war crimes and shaping historical consciousness. Oleksandr Alferov outlined the problem of the systematic destruction and appropriation of Ukrainian cultural heritage by the aggressor state and shared his experience of evacuating cultural treasures from frontline territories.
Representatives of museum institutions in the Donetsk region emphasised that even with the loss of premises and the relocation of collections, museums in the region continue to fulfil their social mission. They stressed that the key value of museum activities remains the specialists and the preservation of historical memory and community identity.
Separate issues were raised regarding state coordination for the rescue of museum collections, recording losses and the international search for stolen cultural property, as well as the need for systematic support for displaced cultural institutions.
Following the discussion, emphasis was placed on the need to strengthen interdepartmental and interinstitutional cooperation in order to ensure the stable operation of frontline and displaced museums in conditions of martial law.