Digital Preservation of Ukraine’s Cultural Heritage under Martial Law

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to highlight the role of libraries, archives, and museums in the digital preservation of Ukraine’s cultural heritage under martial law and to identify the key areas of their information and documentation activities. The research methodology is based on the application of general scientific and special methods of cognition, including analysis and synthesis, systemic and interdisciplinary approaches, as well as comparative and structural-functional analysis. The study employs methods of analysing regulatory and legal acts, scholarly publications, reports of international organisations, and practices of digital preservation of cultural heritage in Ukraine and abroad. The scientific novelty of the study lies in a comprehensive examination of the digitalisation of Ukraine’s cultural heritage under martial law, with a focus on the functioning of libraries, archives, and museums as information hubs that ensure the formation, preservation, and integration of digital cultural resources into national and international information spaces. Conclusions. The digitalisation of Ukraine’s cultural heritage under martial law is examined through the prism of the information and documentation activities of libraries, archives, and museums as key institutions for preserving cultural memory. The problem of loss and damage to tangible and intangible cultural heritage objects as a result of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation is actualised, and digitalisation is substantiated as a strategic instrument for their protection, documentation, and ensuring access to cultural resources. Emphasis is placed on the transformation of the functions of cultural institutions, which under wartime conditions act as information hubs by facilitating the formation of digital collections, electronic repositories, online archives, and virtual museum platforms. It is proven that the digitalisation of cultural heritage in wartime is a vital tool for preserving cultural memory and national identity. The information and documentation activities of cultural institutions, supported by international cooperation and the implementation of modern digital technologies, ensure the long-term preservation of cultural values, their accessibility for scholarly, educational, and public use, and contribute to the integration of Ukraine’s cultural heritage into the global information space.