Ukraine War: The Situation and the Role of Culture

Wars have devastating consequences of all kinds. No matter the sides, causes, or weapons, every war leaves behind ruined cities, sorrowful mothers, and a society in need of rebuilding. The human factor and the safety of civilians should always be the first concern when it comes to "protection" in a conflict-ravaged area. But besides this, other things require protection as well. The values and cultures for which nations fight must also be preserved against the destructiveness of war. 

Although the protection of cultural heritage seems to be an easy subject to forget in a possible war, international agreements are very clear and strict on this issue. According to Red Cross, cultural values and heritages are protected from the war in two ways. First, they are recognized as civilian property and should be treated that way. Second, under the 1954 Hague Convention, each state must ensure the security of its cultural elements. Movable items should be taken to safe places, and immovable things should not be used for military interests. Also, the sides of the armed conflict are not allowed to show direct aggression towards cultural property and must avoid incidental damage to them. Unfortunately, the realities of war often do not align with the conditions set by peacetime agreements.

It is possible to see examples of this reality in Ukraine today. As CCD-NL, we have been paying close attention to the Russian invasion of Ukraine as this tragic and shameful incident continues to unfold. Our deepest desire is to let the Ukrainian people know that we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them in these gruelling times. While the impact of our solidarity may be limited, we argue that it is our duty as human beings to continue to support Ukraine and its fight for freedom. Our foundation believes that the best way to help Ukraine for us is by doing what we do best as a foundation; telling the stories of cultures and their struggles. Thus, with this blog, you are invited to read about Ukraine's cultural heritage during the war and then learn more about the weaving culture in Ukraine.

However, The UNESCO report on Ukraine's cultural properties published on April 21 reports that despite the efforts of volunteers and employees to preserve thousands of cultural monuments, 102 cultural objects and sites have been damaged or destroyed. Against this destructiveness of the war, many of the physical cultural elements continue to be preserved by the endless efforts of the Ukrainians. Moreover, other cultural features also play an essential role in the resistance. 

UK's Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Nadine Dorries said that "Culture is the third front in the Ukraine war." We believe this is true. Just as you protect the physical borders of your country, you must preserve its culture; otherwise, the shared consciousness and identity of the people living within those borders will be damaged. Many artists and artisans are already aware of this fact. Thus, the Ukrainian artists of all branches have been using their art and culture since the invasion began to convey their first-hand war experiences. Some, like musician Timur Dzhafarov, write songs about their experiences at the front to be published when the war is over, while others like Zhenya Oliinyk use their strong pen they used to write novels and stories before to publish news from Ukraine in war times. Those who wish to learn more about these brave artists can read Jakub Knera's article here. Just as these artists use what they are best at - their art and culture – to send a message to the world, we would like to do what we are good at to support Ukraine; introducing and promoting cultures.

With their red tones embroidered on white, it is easy to identify which patterns are generally preferred in weavings. Most artisans use patterns that resemble an octopus, flower, monastery, pine tree, or bird. According to Batyrieva, artisans use these motifs to touch on different themes in their works. For example, most of the crafts include a "flower of life" in the middle. On the other hand, weavings that have been made for weddings symbolize 'binding' with different motives. A technique called "as the parks" being the rarest, Krolevets weaving can be woven by using five other techniques. 

In 1922 a group of home-working weavers using these five different techniques established an enterprise to maximize their production. By the 70s, their exports reached 50 different countries. However, the beginning of the 2000s witnessed rough times as the enterprise went bankrupt. Fortunately, artisans and entrepreneurs were keen on preserving the cultural heritage of the Krolevets weaving. Thus, in 2011 they opened a museum and hosted a festival and a forum for weavers. Thanks to these endless efforts, in 2018, Krolevets weaving was included in the National List of Elements of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Ukraine to preserve its traditions.