100,000 Unique Costumes Destroyed in Russian Strike on Ukraine’s Dovzhenko Film Studio

Strike on the Dovzhenko Film Studio

According to РБК-Україна — Lite: A Russian attack on the Dovzhenko Film Studio has dealt a heavy blow to Ukrainian cultural heritage. The assault destroyed a one-of-a-kind collection of roughly 100,000 costumes, along with the studio’s oldest and largest costume workshop. This devastating event has sparked outrage among Ukrainian actors, who have spoken out against the act. The studio, named after the legendary filmmaker Oleksandr Dovzhenko, has long been a cornerstone of Ukraine’s film industry.

• “Russia always destroys everything Ukrainian-our language, culture, history, and memory. The Dovzhenko Film Studio became another target of this policy.” - Natalka Denysenko

• “Today’s strike is a blow against memory, creativity, and the people who dedicated themselves to Ukrainian cinema.” - Pavlo Tekuchev

Olena Lavrenyuk, who filmed the first season of 'Coffee with Cardamom' at the studio, stressed the site’s significance: 'That’s where we shot the first season of Coffee with Cardamom, built the pavilion, and created all the interiors.' Yana Moris confirmed that the Russian attack wiped out the unique costume collection. Serhiy Chudayev, who worked on projects for 1+1, Novy Channel, and STB at the studio, remarked that 'buildings can be damaged and pavilions destroyed. But you cannot destroy talent, memory, or people’s desire to tell new stories.' He also expressed confidence that 'the Dovzhenko Film Studio will rise again. Like a phoenix from the ashes.'

Actors React

Svitlana Okhrymenko noted that 'it’s incredibly painful to lose such an important cinematic and historical legacy.' Gio Pachkoria believes that 'the studio will continue to live, and this painful event will push us to do even more for Ukrainian cinema.' Dariya Volkova specifically highlighted that 'it’s especially painful to realize that this time, the largest and oldest costume workshop was destroyed.'

Khrystyna Ihnat, who voiced her first short film at the studio, recalled that 'just yesterday, before the shelling, the Brudny Pes music festival was held there.' Olena Olar summed it up: 'To me, they are vandals who only know how to destroy-people, cities, memory, culture.'

This attack stands as yet another example of the aggression and destruction Russia seeks to inflict on Ukrainian culture and history, leaving deep scars in the hearts of those who love and value Ukrainian cinema. The loss of the Dovzhenko Film Studio will not only impact Ukraine’s cultural landscape but will also become a symbol of resilience for Ukrainian art, which, despite challenges, will continue to live and evolve in new forms. This event underscores the critical need to preserve cultural heritage, an essential part of a nation’s identity.

The recent attack on the Dovzhenko Film Studio is not an isolated incident, as overnight Russian strikes also targeted the historic Kyiv Pechersk Lavra. This escalation of violence against cultural landmarks underscores the ongoing threat to Ukraine's rich heritage. To understand the broader implications of these strikes on Ukrainian identity and culture, read more about the attack on the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra here.