As Ukraine’s culture minister, I’m asking you to boycott Tchaikovsky until this war is over

‘Despite Putin’s attempts, this war has opened a window of opportunity for Ukrainians to be seen and heard.’ Ukrainian opera singer Liudmyla Monastyrska performing at the BBC Proms at London's Royal Albert Hall, 31 July 2022. Photograph: Mark Allan/BBC/PA

Russia isn’t just physically attacking Ukraine; it is also trying to destroy our culture and memory. In the occupied territories, Ukrainian libraries have been liquidated, the word “Ukraine” has been erased, and Ukrainian museums have been destroyed. Our ministry of culture and information policy has recorded more than 800 cases of destruction: monuments and works of art, museums, valuable historical buildings.

This war is a civilisational battle over culture and history. On 5 September this year, Vladimir Putin signed a decree that refers to the “Russian peace”. The Kremlin made clear in the document that culture was a tool and even a weapon in the hands of the government, and that it would actively use all the opportunities available to it, from promoting Russian ballet to protecting the rights of Russian speakers abroad, in order to advance its interests.