Ukraine’s largest costume collection destroyed in Kyiv missile strike

Kyiv under fire: cultural landmarks hit hard

According to Главком: On June 15, a massive missile barrage targeted Kyiv, causing severe damage to the Oleksandr Dovzhenko National Film Studio. One of its workshops was destroyed, along with Ukraine’s largest and oldest costume collection, which was stored there. While many costumes were lost, the studio’s unique film archive survived. According to the studio’s director general, Andriy Donchyk, the vault held around 600 films on physical reels, many of which have not yet been digitized. Fortunately, part of the costume collection remains intact, as the items were kept in multiple locations.

The attack also damaged the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra (Monastery of the Caves) and several residential buildings across the city. A strike hit the UNESCO World Heritage site, sparking a large fire on the roof of the Dormition Cathedral and causing significant structural harm. Sacred relics and liturgical items from the Lavra were successfully evacuated before the blaze could reach them.

Residential damage and recovery efforts

The Russian assault also affected apartment buildings in various Kyiv districts. In Pechersk District, a five-story building was hit; in Obolon District, a residential block suffered structural failure between the third and fourth floors; and in Solomianskyi District, a nine-story building was struck. The Dovzhenko film studio suffered extensive damage as well, with broken windows across its buildings, including the main administrative block.

Damage assessments are still ongoing, but the film community has already established a relief fund to support restoration. Private patrons are also stepping in to help. All priority repair work is expected to be completed before winter. Despite the destruction, the studio continues to welcome visitors, and guided tours remain available. The tour route will now include a stop to show the aftermath of the Russian aggression.

“When staff were allowed to the site, we saw that there was nothing to salvage from that costume storage. It’s complete rubble. Luckily, the costumes weren’t kept in just one place. We had several other locations, so part of the collection did survive.” – Andriy Donchyk

This attack underscores the ongoing devastation of Ukraine’s cultural heritage during the war. The destruction of the Dovzhenko National Film Studio and the damage to historic sites like the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra serve as stark reminders of the threat to national identity and history. Rebuilding these cultural institutions and collections will be a crucial step in the country’s post-conflict recovery.

The recent missile strike not only devastated the Oleksandr Dovzhenko National Film Studio but also inflicted significant damage on other cultural sites in Kyiv. For a deeper understanding of the impact on these historic landmarks, including the destruction of the Dovzhenko costume collection, you can read more about the extensive damage to the landmark monastery and cultural heritage affected by the assault.