The exhibition "Witnesses of War - The Destroyed Cultural Heritage" is being held in Riga by the Freedom Monument until March 22, highlighting the severe impact of armed conflict on cultural heritage. It features photographs that document Ukrainian cultural heritage sites before and after their destruction, serving as strong evidence of the fragility of cultural spaces amidst the violence of war.

Since the start of Russia's military aggression in Ukraine, thousands of cultural sites have been damaged or destroyed, including not only internationally recognized landmarks but also local heritage sites that play crucial roles in national identity and collective memory. This exhibition draws attention to the profound loss faced by Ukraine, with data from the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture indicating that at least 1,630 cultural heritage monuments and 2,437 cultural infrastructure buildings have been harmed across the country.

The devastation has affected 18 regions of Ukraine, from major cities to rural areas. Museums, libraries, theaters, galleries, and art schools have become targets in this ongoing conflict, raising urgent questions about the preservation of cultural identity and historical narratives in the face of warfare. This exhibition serves both as a reminder of the past and a call to action to protect cultural heritage worldwide.