Bezpieczeństwo i ochrona zasobu archiwalnego na Ukrainie po 24 II 2022 r. – problem cyfryzacji
Security and Protection of the Archival Fond in Ukraine after 24 II 2022: The Challenge of Digitization

Summary/Abstract: The Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began on 24 II 2022, extends beyond a purely military dimension, manifesting as a systematic campaign targeting Ukrainian cultural identity and documentary heritage. These actions are consistent with historical imperial practices aimed at negating Ukraine’s distinct identity. In this context, the protection of the national archival fond, comprising approximately 100 mln items and dispersed across a network of central, regional, district, and municipal archives, has become a key priority. The security of the collections is ensured through comprehensive measures, including the evacuation of materials from combat zones, their physical protection against attacks, and an intensive digitization campaign. This campaign is coordinated by the State Archival Service of Ukraine under the leadership of Anatolii Khromov and implemented in cooperation with international partners. In this process, Ukraine draws on foreign expertise, including that of Polish archives, which significantly accelerated their digitization efforts during the covid 19 pandemic. For instance, the Polish portal „szukajwarchiwach.pl” currently provides access to 79 mln scans, whereas the Ukrainian Inter Archival Search Portal has so far gathered information on 10 mln digital copies, with a particular focus on historical and genealogical materials that are often physically inaccessible. The contemporary Ukrainian archival system, developed since 1991 in opposition to the Soviet centralist model, is built upon the foundation of the 1993 Law on the National Archival Fond. This law was amended in 2019 and 2024 to address the challenges of digitization and war. Key strategic documents, such as the reform of the state management of Ukraine (2021) and the Strategy for the Protection of Documentary Heritage until 2027, integrate the digitization process with the „Diia. Digital State” program. This integration enables, among other things, the archiving of born digital documentation via the diplomatic e archive platform. International cooperation with organizations such as FamilySearch and ALIPH has accelerated these efforts, as exemplified by the case of the Lviv Central State Historical Archives (TsDIAL). Employing a hybrid model, this archive publishes over 40,000 scans per month (primarily of metric books) on the Archium platform, utilizing hardware support from the USA and Japan. Similarly, the State Archive of Lviv Oblast is digitizing municipal records from 1919 1939 with funding from ALIPH. Under these circumstances, digitization proves to be the most effective method for safeguarding national identity, transferring documentary heritage into the digital sphere and ensuring its preservation for future generations in the face of ongoing aggression.

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