Kherson Regional Art Museum during Russian occupation. PHOTO: BELKIS WILLE/HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH

Essays Russian cultural expansion in Ukraine. Exploring new perspectives for international relations in the region

The paper examines Russia’s cultural expansionism that extends beyond the military invasion in Ukraine since 2014. In the first part, I trace Russia’s systematic efforts to seize and manipulate Ukrainian heritage, often under the guise of protection. I also touch on the role of museums in this expansion, where they are used to preserve collections through coercive acquisition and to promote a Russian-centric narrative. The second part of the article delves into the historical relationships between Russia and Ukraine, especially in the context of the Soviet era’s museum infrastructure. Overall, the text calls for new concepts and international efforts to critique Russia’s actions and protect Ukrainian culture.

Published in the printed edition of Baltic Worlds BW 2023:4, p 13-22
Published on balticworlds.com on December 11, 2023

abstract

The paper examines Russia’s cultural expansionism that extends beyond the military invasion in Ukraine since 2014. In the first part, I trace Russia’s systematic efforts to seize and manipulate Ukrainian heritage, often under the guise of protection. I also touch on the role of museums in this expansion, where they are used to preserve collections through coercive acquisition and to promote a Russian-centric narrative. The second part of the article delves into the historical relationships between Russia and Ukraine, especially in the context of the Soviet era’s museum infrastructure. Overall, the text calls for new concepts and international efforts to critique Russia’s actions and protect Ukrainian culture.

KEYWORDS: Russian-Ukrainian war, cultural heritage, museums, international relationships, history of the Soviet Union, culture.

Read the full article as pdf (see above)

Maria Silina