The main collection of the Donetsk Regional Art Museum was looted by the occupiers in 2014
This is reported by Kyiv24
The Kyiv Customs has transferred a valuable icon of the “Savior Almighty” to the Donetsk Regional Art Museum, which had previously been attempted to be illegally exported abroad. The icon was seized from an international postal shipment during customs control.
Historical and Artistic Value of the Icon
According to experts, the icon is one of the most important images in Christian iconography. It was created in the late 19th to early 20th century in the icon-painting workshops of the Russian Empire. The artifact holds significant cultural and historical value for Ukraine and its national museums.
“The capital’s customs officers seized the relic from an international postal shipment; it was being sent abroad without any permits. Thanks to the customs officials, the icon remained in Ukraine and, by court decision, was transferred to state ownership,” reports the customs press service.
Transfer of Cultural Values Continues
The customs authorities emphasized that the transfer of such artifacts to state museums is carried out in accordance with the decisions of the Expert and Fund Council under the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine. This time, the icon was specifically handed over to the Donetsk Regional Art Museum, which has been actively replenishing its collection since losing its main fund due to the occupation in 2014.
As noted by the agency, this is not the first time such a transfer of cultural values has occurred to the Donetsk Museum. A representative of the museum expressed gratitude to the customs officials for their assistance in preserving and replenishing the artistic heritage, a part of which the country lost after the onset of the occupation.