Ukraine’s culture minister Oleksandr Tkachenko has resigned after a dispute with President Volodymyr Zelensky over state funding. Earlier the media had already reported that the minister wanted about twelve euros to complete a national museum.
This facility is intended to commemorate, among other things, the Ukrainian victims of the Holodomor Genocide in the 1930s. On Thursday evening, on his Telegram channel, Tkachenko defended spending on culture even in times of war. “Culture during war is important because it is not only a war for territories but also for people,” Tkachenko wrote there. Funds for culture are no less important than funds for drones during the war, “because culture is the protective shield of our identity and our borders,” said the politician.
Zelenskyy: “Main focus on defense”
Zelenskyy then stated in his nightly speech that “in times of war like this, the main attention of the state, and therefore of state resources, should be devoted to defence”. While museums and other cultural areas are important, “we currently have other priorities.” After about 17 months of Russian offensive war, Ukrainian society understands that budget cuts are currently being made on things that are not urgently needed. Zelenskyj also instructed the government to develop alternative financing options for (cultural) projects.
In addition, the head of state informed the people of the country that he had asked his Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal to consider replacing Tkachenko. The minister has now prevented these considerations by stepping down.
Source: Krone
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