At a time when Ukrainian culture has become one of the targets of Russia’s aggression, the support of partners is critically important. This was the focus of the meeting between the Ambassador of Ukraine to Lithuania Olha Nikitchenko and the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania Vaida Aleknavičienė.

During the discussion, the Ambassador emphasized that for Ukraine today culture is not an abstraction, but the very heart of the struggle for identity, history, and memory. That is precisely why it has become a deliberate target of Russia’s war. The scale of destruction is unprecedented: more than 1,600 cultural heritage sites and 2,400 cultural infrastructure facilities have been damaged or destroyed, with total losses to the sector estimated at €24 billion.

The Ambassador expressed sincere gratitude to the Ministry of Culture of Lithuania for its principled and consistent support of Ukraine. She particularly welcomed the recent decision to extend the programme “Professional Development for Ukrainian Cultural Professionals” in 2026 – an important initiative that strengthens professional capacity and institutional resilience within Ukraine’s cultural sector.

The Ambassador also thanked Lithuania for its leadership within the Culture Resilience Alliance, its readiness to share expertise, and its practical support for Ukrainian culture – through international exhibitions, as well as the safeguarding and restoration of Ukrainian cultural heritage items in Lithuania.

Speaking about next steps, the Ambassador briefed her counterparts on new waves of Russian terror and presented an initiative of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine – the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Fund, aimed at protecting and restoring cultural heritage. The discussion also addressed countering attempts by Russia to exploit cultural platforms as tools of influence and disinformation.