Kyiv Removes Protective Structures From Monuments After Mold and Corrosion Found
Municipal crews in Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, are dismantling temporary protective structures around monumental artworks so the monuments can be fully inspected. City authorities say prolonged enclosure can damage the materials.
In Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, municipal workers are taking down temporary protective structures around several monumental art monuments. According to the Kyiv City Military Administration (KMDA), the aim is to carry out a comprehensive inspection of the objects. The structures were installed during the war to shield the monuments from external impact.
Decisions are made depending on each monument's condition and on whether it still needs protection. The KMDA's Department for the Protection of Cultural Heritage says that maintaining such structures requires a constant search for a balance between the look of the urban space and safety.
Why the structures are being removed
The department states that partial dismantling is carried out after careful analysis and consultation with experts, primarily to allow a full inspection. Covering monuments for a long time with airtight or dense materials, in conditions of high humidity and temperature swings, may worsen their condition. Specialists are now weighing the protective function of the structures against the potential risks of their long-term effect, applying an individual approach to each object.
The department acknowledges that the shelters are effective against shrapnel damage, but long-term isolation causes destructive changes in materials. During inspection of the marble monument to Princess Olga, mold was found, formed by moisture accumulating in the sand-based shelter. Under the protective scaffolding around the monument to Bohdan Khmelnytsky, vegetation was found growing, and its roots were damaging the structure of the pedestal. In addition, disruption of the natural microclimate and a "greenhouse effect" can cause efflorescence and signs of corrosion on bronze elements.
What happens next
Each object is decided on individually. Depending on its technical condition, the level of existing risks and the security situation, the structures may be dismantled, upgraded or installed again. The department stresses that there is no universal approach to protecting immovable heritage during wartime, so measures for each monument are described as balanced and targeted.
