Confiscated artifacts handed over to Kherson museum

A rare book and ancient coins confiscated from customs offenders will be added to the collections of the Kherson Museum of Local Lore.

This was reported by the Volyn Customs.

We are talking about the book "Brief Lessons on Moral Christian Life and the Main Duties of a Christian," published in 1889 in St. Petersburg, as well as a collection of 139 coins of Russian imperial and Soviet minting (from 1801 to 1991). These artifacts will be kept in the Kherson Regional Museum of Local Lore for life.

The customs explained that this was made possible by the decision of the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, which approved an order to transfer seized or confiscated cultural property to cultural institutions and turn it into state revenue. These objects will now officially become part of the state museum fund.

The coins were rescued at the Yahodyn customs post by Volyn customs officers in the fall of 2022, and the old book was rescued at the Ustyluh post at the end of 2023. Both objects were confiscated by a decision of the Liuboml District Court of Volyn Oblast in 2024. Before being transferred to the museum, they were stored at the customs warehouse and prepared for transfer in accordance with applicable regulations.

Meanwhile, the Kherson Art Museum, which was looted by the Russians, received a gift from a young Kherson artist Tamara Kachalenko - a series of 35 graphic works entitled Faces of War, most of which were created in May 2024.

According to the Kherson Museum of Art, the Russian invaders stole more than 10,000 museum items. Among the stolen items are not only paintings, but also graphic works and 12 sculptures, including a majolica by Mikhail Vrubel.

In addition, the museum estimated that the invaders took more than 10 paintings with children as the main characters from their collection.

After that, the museum in Kherson, looted by the occupiers, received protection for more than 800 thousand hryvnias. It will be guarded by the Protection Police Department.

Ірина Глухова