Melitopol Museum of Local Lore, Zaporizhzhya
As of September 2023, the city of Melitopol and the Melitopol Museum of Local Lore are still under occupation. In October 2022, the Museum staff shared their thoughts with us:
"Right now, when we are writing this post of gratitude, our city of Melitopol and our Melitopol Museum of Local Lore are under occupation. Since February 25, the museum has been closed due to the outbreak of russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.
At five in the morning on February 24, when explosions were heard at our airfield and military units, the museum staff came to work and did their best to preserve the museum exhibits during this terrible and incomprehensible time. The museum collection could not be taken away, so they hid it as best they could. Thanks to the cohesion of the staff, we developed a schedule of duties during the first month of the war. And despite the presence of the military, who kidnapped the museum director, the museum workers tried to keep their cultural front.
Due to the fact that the city is occupied, prices for food and medicine have risen several times, and most museum workers are unable to cover their basic needs. We sincerely thank you for your help in this difficult time. Some of our employees have evacuated, others have remained under occupation. We sincerely believe in the de-occupation of our city, in victory and in the return of our museum!"
PS. We publish the stories of our fellow museum workers with their permission, and only when they believe that there is no threat to their lives and the lives of their loved ones.
Additionally, here is an interview with the director of the Museum, Leila Ibrahimova, for the online publication Babel.