In response to the ongoing full-scale Russian invasion, representatives from major Polish cultural institutions took part in a pivotal study visit to Kyiv from March 23 to 27, 2026. Organized by the OBMIN Network and supported by the Embassy of the Republic of Poland, the mission focused on crisis management, heritage protection, and the evolving role of museums as pillars of national identity during wartime.

The participants took part in the international conference ‘OBMIN Resilient Culture. Cultural Resilience’, which was held at the Museum of the Second World War in Kyiv.

The Polish group visited the following institutions in Kyiv:

• National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World - War. Memorial Complex in Kyiv
• National Preserve "Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra"
• National Museum of Decorative Arts of Ukraine
• Treasury of the National Museum of the History of Ukraine
• Mystetskyi Arsenal National Art and Culture Museum Complex
• National Art Museum named after Bohdan and Varvara Khanenko
• National Museum of the Holodomor-Genocide
• National Museum of the History of Ukraine
• National Art Museum of Ukraine
• Taras Shevchenko National Museum

The study visit to Kyiv focused on the resilience of Ukrainian cultural institutions operating under the conditions of a full-scale invasion. The meetings centered on the practical and logistical challenges of crisis management, including the urgent dismantling of permanent exhibitions, the safeguarding of fragile collections, and the critical role of digitization in protecting heritage under threat.

Beyond technical survival, the discussions highlighted how museums have adapted to a "new reality" by becoming active centers for national identity and historical justice. Key topics included:

Cultural Reclamation: Celebrating landmark legal victories, such as the return of Crimean treasures, as a symbol of resistance against the looting of heritage.

Continuity of Work: Demonstrating that even during active conflict, archaeological research and new discoveries continue, providing a "priceless experience" for international partners.

The Evolution of Memory: Exploring how to bridge historical tragedies, like the Holodomor, with the contemporary context of war to ensure the continuity of national memory.

Public Engagement: Shifting toward contemporary art and new exhibition forms to keep the public engaged and provide a space for reflection, despite the ongoing security situation. Ultimately, the visit underscored that in times of war, museums transcend their role as mere repositories of objects; they serve as vital bastions of resilience, truth, and community.

The visit established a new benchmark for Polish-Ukrainian cultural diplomacy. By moving beyond theoretical cooperation into shared experience, both sides have laid the groundwork for:

• Long-term institutional partnerships.
• Advanced crisis management protocols for European museums.
• Joint projects in digitization and heritage reclamation.

List of participating Museum of Poland:

• POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw
• National Museum in Kraków
• Museum of the Second World War, Gdańsk
• Gallery Arsenał in Białystok
• Muzeum Sztuki in Łódź
• Silesian Museum in Katowice
• Polish History Museum in Warsaw
• Centre for Culture in Lublin
• International Cultural Centre in Kraków