During this war, Russia has systematically given military priority to striking Ukraine's cultural heritage - because that is what holds a country together. Cultural heritage is our common heritage and its protection is a collective global responsibility. Therefore, Sweden also has an important role to play in this context, says Mats Djurberg, director of the Maritime Museum.
The centre will, among other things, train Ukrainian archaeologists and conservators, coordinate international research, and support future documentation and conservation efforts in the area.
In April, the Riksdag approved the allocation of twelve million kronor in support of Ukraine in the field of cultural heritage preservation. The money is administered by the UN agency UNESCO. This year, four million will be paid out, followed by the remaining eight million, says Fred Hocker, research director at the Vasa Museum and chairman of the executive committee for archaeology at the International Congress of Maritime Museums.
The agreement includes Sweden temporarily taking care of Ukrainian cultural objects, which will be stored in Karlskrona. We will also receive interns and finance fieldwork, Fred Hocker continues.
Velykyj Luh, or the Great Meadow, contains, among other things, thousands of archaeological remains.
