Composer Ihor Poklad’s Archive Saved by His Widow During Kyiv Attack

Attack on the Composer's Family

According to Главком: On the night of June 15, Kyiv came under yet another assault, during which Russian forces struck the apartment of the family of renowned composer Ihor Poklad. This marked the second time the building where the family lived was damaged by shelling. The composer's widow, Svitlana Poklad, rushed to rescue her husband's archive in a critical moment, as his creative legacy includes over 150 songs.

Svitlana Poklad shared her experience during the attack, stating: 'I don’t know what those whose homes are hit for a second time, like ours, are trying to save. But I knew exactly what had to be saved-a treasure. The only one. Exclusive. Unrepeatable… Creativity. Something that could have burned in the fire of hatred aimed at us, Ukrainians! The archive survived! But you didn’t succeed, bastards! And you never will! Burn in hell yourselves!'

- Svitlana Poklad

Ihor Poklad’s Legacy

Ihor Poklad, a Hero of Ukraine and National Legend, passed away on July 9, 2025, at the age of 84. During the first two weeks of the full-scale invasion, the Poklad family spent time in the basement of their home in Vorzel, located in the Bucha district of Kyiv Oblast. They managed to avoid occupation, and Svitlana Poklad was able to save part of her husband's legacy.

She added: 'We managed to take as much as we could with the girls-it was hard. There are kilometers of music… This is something that never dies! My dear Ihor Poklad… You once again protected your home and your legendary piano from heaven, and everything else is now safe! More to come! Nothing will be lost! I promise!'

Ihor Poklad left a significant mark on Ukrainian culture, and his works continue to live in people's hearts. In his memoirs, he noted: 'One day, I decided to inspect my creative sheet music library. I saw it and couldn’t believe it myself-did I really write all of this?! When did I have the time?! There are kilometers of music in my closet.'

Despite all the hardships, the Poklad family remains committed to preserving the memory of the great composer and his work. This incident once again highlights the impact of war on Ukraine's cultural heritage, where each shelling threatens not only human lives but also cultural treasures. Restoring and preserving archives like Ihor Poklad's creative output has become a critical task amid today's challenges. The family, despite their losses, shows resilience and determination in protecting cultural heritage, reflecting the unyielding spirit of Ukrainians in these difficult times.