Ukraine and Sweden have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to preserve the cultural heritage of Velykyi Luh, one of the key symbols of Ukraine's Cossack history, the Embassy of Ukraine in Sweden has announced.
After Russia destroyed the Kakhovka Dam in 2023, triggering a major humanitarian and environmental disaster, vast areas of Velykyi Luh that had been submerged for decades re-emerged. This has provided access to thousands of archaeological and historical sites, including ancient burial grounds, settlements, shipwrecks and traces of different historical periods and wars.
The memorandum brings together Ukrainian, Swedish and international institutions, including the Zaporizhzhya Regional Military Administration, Zaporizhzhya National University, the Khortytsia National Reserve, the Swedish National Maritime and Transport Museums, and the International Congress of Maritime Museums.
According to the embassy, the agreement marks an important step towards establishing an International Centre for the Study and Preservation of Velykyi Luh.