Czech Republic to help save Ukrainian book heritage

The Czech Ministry of Culture and the Czech National Library are creating the Ark project to save Ukrainian historical printed editions and other unique books. This was reported by Novinky.cz on 7 February.

The initiators of the project "Ark" intend to equip mobile restoration workshops to save the Ukrainian book fund in the regions affected by Russian bombing and shelling.

It is not by chance that the rescue operation received a biblical name. These are vehicles with modern equipment, on which Ukrainian specialists will be travelling around the country from July and on the spot to preserve the written treasures of their country," the statement said.

According to Tomas Foltyn, director general of the National Library of the Czech Republic, the goal of the Ark is to preserve damaged cultural monuments so that they are preserved for future generations".

The Ark project should be ready in the middle of the year, while specialists of the Czech National Library will train their Ukrainian colleagues.

It is noted that the project is a response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has been going on for almost two years.

Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, we see that the Russians are purposefully bombing libraries and archives, that they want to wipe out the Ukrainian nation. That is why the Czech Ministry of Culture launched this project," Czech Deputy Culture Minister Ondřej Chrast said.

It is reported that the Ark will cost ten million crowns and will be paid for by private sponsors, including businessmen Karel Komarek and Libor Winkler.