Novi stari barbari

Od početka ničim izazvane ruske agresije, više od 2000 objekata kulturne infrastrukture u Ukrajini je oštećeno ili uništeno. Kazališta i muzeji, lokalni klubovi, galerije, kina i filharmonije, parkovi i zoološki vrtovi su granatirani i bombardirani.

Ovog proljeća, velika izdavačka kuća u Harkivu je uništena, nekoliko zaposlenika je ubijeno, a tisuće knjiga je spaljeno. Okupatori se, čini se, bore ne samo protiv ukrajinskog naroda, već i protiv same biti Ukrajine. Doslovno spaljuju ukrajinske knjige u okupiranim gradovima i selima. Iz nekog izopačenog razloga uništavaju naše spomenike, kradu umjetnička djela i manično pokušavaju ugasiti svaki podsjetnik na ukrajinsku kulturu.

Na početku invazije u punom opsegu, bili smo zapanjeni kada smo saznali da su okupatori krali odjeću, pribor za jelo, nakit, televizore i WC školjke. Čak mi ih je bilo žao jer nisam mogao zamisliti osobu koja je pala tako nisko da krade rabljenu WC školjku. A onda su vijesti o spaljenim, poplavljenim i uništenim muzejima i umjetničkim galerijama promijenile sažaljenje u gađenje.

U svim tim razgovorima i intervjuima o “otkazivanju ruske kulture” i “jadnim ruskim mučenicima i liberalima” ne spominju ukrajinsku kulturu, njene ranjene i ubijene pisce, plesače i operne pjevače. Nažalost, ovo nije ništa novo. Sve se to dogodilo i prije, u XX. stoljeću i mnogo prije toga. Poznati ruski muzeji još uvijek čuvaju ukradena umjetnička djela i artefakte iz Ukrajine. Nijedan UNESCO ne može spasiti našu baštinu, za sada zaštićenu vrećama s pijeskom. Dok se ne poraze novi stari barbari…

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New old barbarians

Since the beginning of Russian unprovoked aggression, more than 2000 venues of cultural infrastructure in Ukraine have been damaged or demolished. Theatres and museums, local clubs, galleries, cinemas and philharmonies, parks and zoos were shelled and bombed.

This spring, a major publishing house in Kharkiv was destroyed, several employees were killed, and thousands of books were burnt. Occupiers seem to be fighting not only against the Ukrainian people, but against the essence of Ukraine itself. They literally burn Ukrainian books in occupied cities and villages. For some twisted reason, they vandalize our monuments, steal artworks, and try maniacally to extinguish every reminder of Ukrainian culture.

At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, we were stunned to get to know occupiers stole clothes, cutlery, jewellery, TVs and flush toilets. I even pitied them because I could not imagine a person fallen so deep to steal a used flash toilet. And then the news about burnt, flooded and destroyed museums and art galleries changed pity into disgust.

In all those conversations and interviews about “russian culture cancelation” and “poor russian martyrs and liberals” they are not mentioning Ukrainian culture, its wounded and killed writers, dancers and opera singers. Sadly, this is not something new. It all happened before, in the XXth century and long before that. Renowned Russian museums still keep stolen artefacts and artworks from Ukraine. No UNESCO can save our legacy sheltered, for now, by sand bags. Until new old barbarians are defeated…