Cultural artifacts stolen every day in Ukraine - minister in Vilnius

VILNIUS - Cultural artifacts in Ukraine are being stolen on a daily basis, Ukrainian Culture and Strategic Communications Minister Mykola Tochytskyi said in Vilnius on Thursday, adding that his country is constantly looking into ways to evacuate such artifacts.

Lithuania has drawn up lists of the most important cultural valuables and is in the process of designating cultural heritage objects with the Hague Convention Blue Shield emblems and is also updating its emergency management plans, Lithuania's Culture Ministry said.

Tochytskyi stressed the importance of such lists, as in Ukraine, he said, cultural artifacts are being stolen and taken to Russia every day.

"It is difficult to protect all of them, so we are grateful to Lithuania and other countries for the joint exhibitions where our cultural valuables are displayed and at the same time protected," the Ukrainian minister said.

In his words, the the evacuation of valuables is constantly on the table and the complexity of this issue involves not only finances, but also time and the need for specialists.

For his part, Lithuanian Culture Minister Sarunas Birutis stressed during the meeting that in the current geopolitical situation, when Ukraine is defending the values of the entire Western civilization, it is particularly important to strengthen the public's information resilience and to develop critical thinking.

"This is an integral part of our common defense and security. We firmly support Ukraine in this fight and we also undertake to mobilize Lithuanian society," Birutis said

According to the Culture Ministry, over 1,500 evacuated pieces of Ukrainian cultural heritage are currently being preserved, restored and presented to the public in Lithuania, and also Ukrainian specialists are undergoing training.