National Approaches to Combating Crimes Against Cultural Heritage
September 17, 2025
On 16 September, a round table titled “National Approaches to Combating Crimes Against Cultural Heritage” took place in Kyiv. The event was organised by the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications (MCSC) together with the European Union Advisory Mission (EUAM) Ukraine.
The event was attended by representatives of the Office of the Prosecutor General, the National Police, the Security Service of Ukraine, the State Customs Service, the Bureau of Economic Security, intelligence structures, as well as international experts, including from the United States of America (Fiona Greenland, Head of the CURIA Lab).
In response to systemic threats related to the illegal export of Ukrainian cultural assets under the conditions of the full-scale aggression of the Russian Federation, the MCSC continues to build active cooperation with international partners, in particular with EUAM.
During the discussion, best practices of EU countries were discussed regarding the creation of specialised law enforcement units and their interaction with state institutions and international partners for the effective fight against crimes targeting cultural heritage.
Opening the event, the Deputy Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications for European Integration, Andrii Nadzhos, emphasised the importance of preserving cultural heritage during the war. He presented the Ministry’s initiative to establish an International Coalition to Combat the Illegal Export of Cultural Property, which aims to unite state authorities, law enforcement agencies, international partners, and the public.
Deputy Head of EUAM Ukraine Maura O’Sullivan reminded that cultural heritage often becomes a target in wars, and crimes against it are an element of the aggressor’s strategy aimed at destroying national identity. She confirmed the EU Advisory Mission’s continued readiness to support Ukraine in recording, investigating, and preventing such crimes.
Representative of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine Taras Semkiv reported on the creation of specialised units for investigating crimes against cultural heritage. According to him, individuals involved in the destruction of architectural monuments and the theft of museum exhibits have already been held accountable. At the same time, the scale of these crimes requires a systematic approach.
Speaking during the first panel on “Threats to Ukrainian Cultural Heritage,” the Head of the UNESCO Office in Ukraine, Chiara Dezzi Bardeschi, emphasised that the destruction and theft of cultural heritage constitute violations of international humanitarian law. UNESCO is actively assisting Ukraine in creating digital heritage registries and conducting training for museum workers, law enforcement officers, and military personnel.
As part of the event, panel discussions took place with the participation of law enforcement representatives from Italy, France, Spain, and Romania, who shared their experiences in creating and operating specialised units for the protection of cultural assets.
Deputy Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine for Digital Development, Digital Transformations, and Digitalisation Anastasiia Bondar presented the Ministry’s digital projects: an open dashboard with information on damage to cultural infrastructure and an electronic register of the museum fund. She also emphasised the importance of digitising inventory books and documentation to form an evidence base in international judicial proceedings.
It should be recalled that the round table “National Approaches to Combating Crimes Against Cultural Heritage” continued the deepening cooperation between the MCSC and EUAM.
