Pro Bono Legal Support for Museums and Museum Professionals
The Rafael Lemkin Society provides free legal support to museums and museum professionals affected by the armed aggression of the Russian Federation. We recognize that even without direct attacks, the work of cultural institutions is severely hindered by constant threats and the destruction of infrastructure.
As of today, we have signed cooperation agreements with four leading Ukrainian museums:
Bohdan and Varvara Khanenko National Museum of Arts
On October 10, 2022, Russia launched a missile strike on the historic center of Kyiv. Numerous cultural institutions were damaged, including the Khanenko Museum. The building sustained broken windows and roof damage. Fortunately, the collection had been evacuated before the invasion and remains safe, though it is currently inaccessible to the public. The attack was a deliberate attempt to destroy cultural heritage, as the museum houses unique artistic treasures of Europe, Asia, and the Ancient World, amassed by renowned patrons Bohdan and Varvara Khanenko.
Photo credit: Kyrylo Tymoshenko
Odesa National Fine Arts Museum
The Odesa National Fine Arts Museum is located in the former Naryshkin family estate, a 19th-century architectural landmark included on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The museum has suffered repeated damage from Russian missile attacks. In the summer of 2022, after the first strike, staff quickly carried out repairs and installed protective structures.
Over the following year, the museum sustained additional damage: shattered windows, destroyed lanterns, and cracks in the walls. On November 6, 2023, a missile struck the road directly in front of the museum, causing further destruction. That same day, the museum was supposed to celebrate its 124th anniversary, but instead staff were forced to document the damage and address the consequences of the attack.
Photo credit: Ivan Strakhov
Kharkiv Literary Museum
Immediately after the start of the full-scale invasion, the museum suspended operations to evacuate its exhibits. In March 2025, the museum was damaged after a drone strike hit a courtyard next to its garden. Windows were blown out, and ceilings collapsed in several offices. Despite daily shelling risks in the frontline region, the museum has managed to resume its activities. However, due to restrictions and ongoing threats, full operation remains impossible, resulting in daily losses.
Photo: Tetiana Pylypchuk
Mariupol Museum of Local Lore
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion, the Mariupol Museum of Local Lore, located in the city’s historic center, was heavily shelled and bombed. Repeated direct hits caused fires that spread across all floors of the building. The museum lost its exhibitions and a significant part of its collection. Its branches — the Museum of Folk Life and the Kuindzhi Art Museum, both located on the same street — were also destroyed. After the destruction, occupying forces removed part of the surviving valuables, leading to the loss of significant historical and cultural heritage of the city and the region.
Photo courtesy of the museum’s website
How We Support Museums
The museum community bears the heavy responsibility of protecting, preserving, restoring, and recovering artifacts. Without the active participation of museum professionals in criminal proceedings, the chances of achieving justice and securing compensation for cultural losses caused by Russian aggression remain extremely low.
That is why we provide pro bono professional legal assistance to help address the consequences of aggression, including:
- Legal consultations on issues affecting museum operations;
- Representation of institutions and museum workers as victims and witnesses in criminal proceedings in Ukraine and before international institutions;
- Expert assessments of losses caused by aggression;
- Participation in developing solutions for the preservation of collections, including documenting losses, creating emergency rescue action plans, cataloging collections, and digitizing catalogs and holdings.