Propagandists continue to push the narrative that Ukraine is being “looted” by its Western allies
Russian media outlets and propaganda Telegram channels are spreading claims that all cultural valuables are allegedly being temporarily taken from Kharkiv to Poland under the pretext of “introducing Europe to the region’s history.” According to propagandists, this is supposedly how local authorities are preparing to “surrender” the city to the Russian army, which is planning an offensive on Kharkiv. As “evidence,” they cite a photo showing Valeriia Dziuba, deputy head of the Kharkiv Regional Council, alongside Marek Lemiesz and Kamil Kulinski of Poland’s National Institute of Cultural Heritage.
This is false. First, the meeting between Kharkiv Regional Council officials and representatives of the Polish National Institute of Cultural Heritage took place on March 25, 2025, while the claim about the “removal of cultural artifacts” first appeared on May 5, 2025, in the Russian Telegram channel Na samom dele Kharkov. This channel poses as Ukrainian but regularly spreads Russian propaganda.
Second, the actual topic of the meeting between Polish experts and Kharkiv officials was the restoration and preservation of cultural heritage in the face of Russian aggression.
The two sides merely discussed the potential for organizing exhibitions of Kharkiv region artifacts in Polish museums to acquaint the Polish public with Ukrainian history. No concrete steps have been taken or announced.
Overall, the National Institute of Cultural Heritage of Poland is working to document war-related damage to cultural heritage in Ukraine. Their specialists are particularly active in the Chernihiv and Kherson regions.
It is worth noting that Russia itself is responsible for the destruction of cultural monuments not only in the Kharkiv region but across the country. According to Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications, 1,453 cultural heritage sites and 2,286 cultural infrastructure facilities have been damaged due to Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Cultural monuments have been affected in 18 regions and in Kyiv. Among the hardest-hit are Kharkiv region (332 sites), Kherson region (281), Donetsk region (172), Odesa region (159), and the Kyiv region including the capital (100), among others.
According to Culture and Strategic Communications Minister Mykola Tochytskyi, Russia has stolen over 1.7 million items of Ukrainian cultural heritage, many of which are now being sold on the black market.
With such fake reports, Russian propagandists aim to stir panic in Kharkiv amid an alleged Russian offensive and portray Ukraine’s allies as “thieves” trying to steal Ukrainian resources and cultural assets. In reality, it is Russia that is carrying out this plunder.
Earlier, Russian propaganda falsely claimed that Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska bought Princess Diana’s dress for nearly $3 million.
Andriy Olenin
