February 24, 2022 — the invasion begins. Ukrainian museums vanish from Google Maps, and art goes underground. As cultural centres in cities like Kharkiv and Kyiv come under threat, volunteers rise to protect Ukraine’s heritage from annihilation.

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Reviews

“The heroes of War on Art aren’t Hollywood types. They’re ordinary people — but their work is invaluable, and their story moves and grips like a great blockbuster.”

Emilia Dłużewska

Gazeta Wyborcza , 10 Oct 2025

“A moving documentary revealing the behind-the-scenes of saving artworks in wartime Ukraine — one of the most compelling events of the Warsaw Film Festival.”

Editorial Team

Rzeczpospolita , 10 Oct 2025

“A wise and important documentary — moving and breathtaking. It tells the story of a remarkable operation to rescue millions of priceless works from more than 150 Ukrainian museums.”

Agnieszka Nieradzka-Prokopowicz

TwojStyl.pl, 29 Sept 2025

“When Russian bombs fell on cities, museums fought to save artworks and archives. War on Art shows how Ukraine protects its heritage in wartime — a story as gripping as any thriller.”

Emilia Dłużewska

Gazeta Wyborcza, 10 Oct 2025

Synopsis

The fight to preserve Ukraine’s artistic legacy takes on new urgency. If Ukrainians do not save their culture from destruction, the country will not survive.
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Lacking official guidance, a courageous network of volunteers emerges. Armed only with determination, they embark on daring missions to safeguard art from public and private collections, risking their lives to preserve Ukraine's cultural identity.
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Thousands of works are lost, damaged or looted by the invading army.
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Through powerful stories, gripping re-enactments, and an exploration of Ukraine’s contemporary art scene, the film reveals that art is more than a passive witness to history. Art is a force for a nation’s survival.

“War on Art” is a story of resilience in the face of destruction, where the struggle to save art is a battle to save a nation.