The ‘warization’ of cultural heritage: the case of Ukraine

The article aims to investigate how cultural heritage is implicated in both traditional and hybrid forms of warfare, considering its significance and instrumentality. By significance, this article refers to the meanings ascribed to cultural heritage through decisions and actions, particularly the intended messages and narratives such actions seek to convey. Instrumentality, on the other hand, denotes the ways in which cultural heritage is mobilized as a tool to advance specific political interests and objectives. The case of Ukraine illustrates the extent to which cultural heritage is deeply intertwined with armed conflict across all phases of warfare, implicating both invaders, invaded and their supporters. The term ‘warization’ encapsulates the range of discourses, narratives, decisions, and actions related to cultural heritage that emerge during wartime, regardless of the roles played by those involved. Actors tend to frame cultural heritage events with a bellicistic language. The article proposes a framework of analysis in a form of an open and evolving taxonomy that helps interpreting actions that have emerged or are currently unfolding during wars.