SBU accuses minister of occupants in Kherson region of war crimes

The Security Service of Ukraine has served a notice of suspicion to the so-called minister of the occupiers in the temporarily occupied Kherson region. He is suspected of stealing valuables from the Kherson Regional Art Museum during the occupation.

This is evidenced by the suspicion of the Prosecutor General's Office.

According to the investigation, in September 2022, while in the temporarily occupied territory of the Kherson region, Ukrainian citizen Artem Lahoyskyi voluntarily agreed to cooperate with the occupation authorities and took up the position of the so-called acting first deputy "Minister of Culture of the Kherson region" in the structure created by the aggressor state.

In October, the Russian invaders decided to appropriate cultural property from museums, galleries and libraries in the Kherson region and then transport it to Russian-controlled territory. The so-called "Minister of Culture of the Kherson region" Oleg Kuzmenko, who, in turn, involved Lahoysky in its implementation.

Having the Kherson Regional Art Museum under their control, the accused, along with Kuzmenko, offered to join the theft of cultural property to Natalia Desyatova, the museum's "director" appointed by the occupiers. She gave her voluntary consent and, on his instructions, organized the selection of the most valuable exhibits with the participation of representatives of museum institutions of the temporarily occupied Crimea.

As a result, 10,223 museum items were removed from the Kherson Regional Art Museum and transported away. Among them are 1,674 paintings, 8,263 graphic works, 12 sculptures, 274 items of decorative and applied art, 373 items of scientific and auxiliary fund, and 189 exhibits of the educational and exhibition fund. Among the stolen items are ancient icons and works by famous Ukrainian and European artists, including Ivan Aivazovsky, Oleksiy Shovkunenko, August Bayer, Frans Ferlut, Peter Lely, and Mykhailo Andrienko-Nechytailo.

Representatives of the occupation administration of Crimea and cultural professionals, including employees of Crimean museums, were also involved in the export of cultural property. The investigation believes that the suspect's actions were committed by a group of people in prior conspiracy and constitute a violation of the laws and customs of war.

The SBU served Artem Lahoysky a notice of suspicion of committing a crime under Part 2 of Article 28 and Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine - war crimes.

According to the Chesno resource, before collaborating with the occupiers, Lahoisky worked as a lecturer at Kherson State University and headed a teaching laboratory at the regional academy of continuing education. He also wrote a blog and had his own YouTube channel and pages on Russian social media.

In September 2025, the Kherson City Court sentenced the collaborator in absentia to 10 years in prison with confiscation of property. He was also known by the nickname "Bidlo" and was actively engaged in propaganda in favor of the Russian Federation, organized events in support of Russian holidays, participated in rallies and publicly supported the distribution of Russian passports in Kherson.

Анна Бальчінос