Russian attack destroys Ivankiv museum with works by Mariia Pryimachenko

During the night of February 27–28, 2022, the Ivankiv Local History Museum in the Kyiv region was destroyed by a Russian attack. The museum housed about 25 works by renowned Ukrainian naïve artist Mariia Pryimachenko (1909–1987), known for her ceramic paintings, drawings, and embroidery inspired by folklore and fantastic animals. Her works were used on Ukrainian stamps, and she received the National Prize in 1970. UNESCO declared 2009 the Year of Mariia Pryimachenko. The destruction was confirmed by Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and local media. In response, the international art community mobilized: the Ukraine Pavilion team suspended preparations for the Venice Biennale, while the curator and artists of the Russia Pavilion resigned, along with Elena Kovalskaya, director of the Vsevolod Meyerhold State Theater and Cultural Center in Moscow. Russian art professionals published an open letter condemning the war, calling for an immediate ceasefire, withdrawal of Russian troops, and peace negotiations.