This ongoing war, beyond its territorial ambitions, poses an even graver threat: the destruction of Ukrainian national identity. Ukraine has confronted this challenge before, facing not only cultural appropriation but also restrictions on the Ukrainian language, the destruction of cultural artifacts, and the persecution and physical elimination of Ukrainian artists, intellectuals, and cultural figures.

This is happening right now. According to the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, from February 22, 2022 (the onset of the war) until October 2024, over 130 cultural figures—including composers, performers, opera singers, conductors, and music managers—have lost their lives. Additionally, more than 2,109 cultural buildings, including concert halls, opera houses, and music educational institutions, have been damaged, with another 368 completely destroyed.

“Since music thrives on being heard, performance venues are essential for giving a ‘voice’ to the Ukrainian repertoire that is at risk of being lost forever,” says Anna Stavychenko.

The struggle to maintain this line of defense in the arts is continually challenged by the relentless threat of destruction, forcing many institutions to close or cancel events altogether. Some have resorted to relocating concerts to subways or shelters, coping with the ongoing disruptions of blackouts, raids, and bombings that send both audiences and performers to bomb shelters. This situation also jeopardizes the preservation of the records and histories of past composers, as many musicians, teachers, managers, librarians, musicologists, and researchers are actively fighting on the front lines and tragically losing their lives in the fight for Ukraine's freedom. Efforts to preserve Ukrainian culture and the arts are seen as acts of genuine resistance.