During the Russian aggression against Ukraine, not only the defenders of its independence, but also the cultural heritage of the country are being killed. Among the victims of the ongoing war are Mariupol’s historical buildings and museum collections.
The Archip Kuindza Art Museum, located in a modernist villa from 1902, contained about 2,000 exhibits – including works of painting, applied art, graphics and sculpture. In addition to the collection containing personal items of the prominent Mariupol landscapist Archip Kuindza (his works can be found, among others, in 50 museums and galleries around the world), the museum also included paintings by I. Aivazovsky, T. Jablonskaya, M. Hłuszczenko, M. Deregus. The collections were probably evacuated before the museum was occupied by the Russians.
J. Charabet’s collection of medals met a tragic fate. More than 700 exhibits were gathered at the institution – these were mainly the works of Yukhym Kharabet, an outstanding representative of Ukrainian medal-making of the 20th century, painter, sculptor of small forms, author of the symbolism of the city of Mariupol and the “Badge of Honor of the President of Ukraine”. The museum’s collections were looted by the Russians.