Russian Forces Again Damage Mykola Kulishe Regional Academic Musical Drama Theater in Kherson

The Mykola Kulishe Regional Academic Musical Drama Theater in Kherson has once again sustained considerable damage as a result of shelling carried out by Russian forces. This alarming news was shared by the theater's general director and artistic director, Oleksandr Knyha, on his social media platforms, where he also posted photographs depicting the new destruction caused by the attack.

The images published by Knyha reveal that this time the theater's roof has been severely affected, with windows that had been boarded up with plywood blown out, along with damage to the porticos. While Knyha did not specify the exact timing of the shelling, his comments indicate that the situation is worsening for Ukraine's cultural heritage.

“Fascists destroyed the Kherson Theater in 1944! Rashists are doing the same now! Remember the theater in Mariupol, the one in Luhansk in Sievierodonetsk, and now — Kherson. This is a targeted genocide of Ukrainian art,” he wrote in his post, emphasizing the gravity of the situation and its historical context.

This is not the first instance of the Kherson Theater suffering damage during the ongoing war. In July 2022, Russian forces shelled the center of Kherson with rocket artillery, resulting in one of the projectiles hitting the column of the theater's main entrance. This attack led to the collapse of part of the facade and damage to the entrance doors. Furthermore, in February 2023, during nighttime shelling of the city, 36 windows were blown out of the theater, underscoring the ongoing threats faced by cultural institutions in the region.

The Mykola Kulishe Regional Musical Drama Theater was constructed in the 1950s after the previous theater building was destroyed during World War II. The new theater was inaugurated in October 1962 and has since become an integral part of Kherson's cultural life. In 1990, the theater was named after the prominent Ukrainian playwright Mykola Kulishe, highlighting its significance to Ukrainian culture.

Currently, the theater is forced to hold performances in a safe basement area, illustrating the challenges cultural institutions face in adapting to wartime conditions. This situation also emphasizes the urgent need to protect Ukraine's cultural heritage from the immediate threats posed by armed conflict.

Despite all the difficulties it faces, the theater continues to stand as a symbol of resilience and the indomitable spirit of Ukrainian art. Oleksandr Knyha and his team persist in their efforts to preserve theatrical traditions, even as circumstances demand extraordinary efforts from them.