Russians removed over 33,000 exhibits from Kherson region museums

According to a report to the Kherson Regional Military Administration, as of May 2026, at least 11 museum institutions in the Kherson region were damaged or destroyed as a result of Russian aggression. At the same time, due to the temporary occupation of part of the region’s territory, it is currently impossible to establish the full scale of destruction and losses.

Among the damaged objects are the main building of the Kherson Regional Museum of Local Lore, its Department of Nature and the Department of Literature. The Kherson Regional Art Museum named after Oleksiy Shovkunenko, the Belozerskyі Museum named after Dmytro Bahaliy, the Velikooleksandrivskyіі Folk History and Local Lore Museum, the Local Lore Museum of the Novovorontsovskyіі Center for Culture and Leisure, and the Vysokopilskyіі Museum of Local Lore were also damaged.

The museums of Nova Kakhovka also suffered significant damage. The building of the City History Museum was damaged as a result of shelling, and after the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant was blown up, it was flooded. The Albin Gavdzinskyі Art Gallery and the Anatoly Bahuta Literary and Memorial Museum were also damaged.

The theft of museum valuables remains a separate problem. According to regional authorities, Russian military personnel have removed more than 33,000 exhibits from museum collections in the Kherson region. 23.217 items were stolen from the Kherson Regional Museum of Local Lore, and 10,223 exhibits from the Kherson Regional Art Museum named after Oleksiy Shovkunenko.

These data are not final. Due to the occupation of part of the region, it is impossible to conduct a full inventory of museum collections and assess the extent of losses.

The status of at least nine museums and five cultural institutions without the status of a legal entity located in the temporarily occupied territory of the Kherson region remains unknown.