Question Time to the Government: Culture as a Component of National Security and Ukraine’s International Resilience

During the plenary sitting of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, we at ndu.kr.ua followed the Question Time to the Government with particular attention, as it remains one of Parliament’s central oversight tools and an important instrument of democratic accountability.

This time, the focus was on humanitarian policy. Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy and Minister of Culture addressed Parliament and answered questions from parliamentary factions and individual MPs. The format itself reflected a balanced parliamentary model: an introductory statement followed by structured questioning from political groups and legislators.

Culture as a pillar of the state

A central message of the minister’s statement was that culture must no longer be viewed as a secondary area of public policy. Over the past six months, the Government and Parliament have laid the foundation for a new cultural policy and delivered the first practical results.

In this new framework, culture is presented as a pillar of national resilience, an instrument of international subjectivity, and a foundation of Ukrainian identity. In wartime, culture answers the defining questions of statehood: who Ukrainians are as a nation, what they are fighting for, and what kind of country they seek to build after the war.

Russia’s war against Ukrainian culture

One of the strongest parts of the discussion concerned the scale of destruction caused by Russia’s aggression against Ukrainian cultural heritage. The figures presented in Parliament demonstrate that this is not collateral damage, but a systematic attack on memory, identity, and historical continuity.

These actions point to a deliberate attempt to erase Ukrainian historical memory and absorb Ukrainian heritage into Russia’s own cultural narrative. The war is therefore being fought not only over territory, but also over meaning, identity, and the right to historical continuity.

2025 as a turning point

This is a major shift in state thinking. Culture is no longer treated as a merely symbolic or supportive sphere. It is increasingly recognised as a strategic state resource that contributes to resilience, public cohesion, and long-term recovery.

International support and cultural diplomacy

The international dimension of cultural policy was another major theme of the session. On 2 March, Lviv hosted the conference “Cooperation for Dignity”, bringing together 40 international delegations, 10 ministers of culture, international organisations, and expert communities.

Ukraine used this platform to present its wartime experience of protecting culture, showing that it is not only a recipient of assistance, but also a source of valuable expertise for international partners.

UNESCO protection and Interpol mechanisms

The session also highlighted progress in international legal protection. According to the information presented, 19 Ukrainian sites have recently been added to the international list of cultural heritage under enhanced protection by UNESCO, while 46 Ukrainian sites are now included in relevant international protection lists overall.

At the same time, 643 cultural objects stolen by Russia have for the first time been entered into the Interpol database. This creates real mechanisms for tracing and returning unlawfully removed cultural property.

Evacuation of cultural property

The Government has adopted a resolution on the evacuation of cultural property. This was described as the first comprehensive regulatory decision of its kind since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.

Under the new framework, the area within 50 kilometres of the frontline is treated as an evacuation zone for museum objects. Responsibilities, procedures, and prioritisation mechanisms have now been clearly defined.

Audit, registries, and governance reform

The parliamentary discussion also pointed to a broader institutional effort to modernise cultural governance. Around 40% of national-level monuments have been entered into the State Register of Immovable Heritage, while about 60% of Ukrainian museums have already completed collection audits.

These technical steps are in fact foundational. Without proper registration, audit, and legal categorisation, heritage cannot be adequately protected, restored, evacuated, insured, or advocated for internationally.

Funding culture and strengthening institutional autonomy

Parliament’s support for culture was also visible in budgetary policy. Funding for culture in the State Budget was increased by 45%, which sends a strong institutional signal that cultural policy is now considered a strategic priority.

At the same time, the Government recognises that public funding alone cannot guarantee sectoral resilience. New regulatory decisions therefore expand the range of paid services that certain cultural institutions may provide, allowing them to generate more income independently while preserving their public mission.

What this means for citizens

For Ukrainian citizens, these developments have direct meaning. They show that culture is now treated as a matter of national security, that the protection of heritage is becoming more systematic, and that international support is turning into institutional mechanisms rather than one-off gestures.

At a deeper level, these decisions reinforce the idea that Ukraine is defending not only its territory, but also its memory, its identity, and its place in Europe.

Conclusions and next steps

The parliamentary discussion made clear that Ukraine’s cultural policy is undergoing a profound transformation. Culture is increasingly understood as a security issue, a diplomatic asset, and a strategic state resource.

The next steps will likely include expanding international support, completing museum audits, strengthening mechanisms for the return of stolen cultural property, broadening evacuation capacity, and improving the financial sustainability of cultural institutions.