The strike on the building housing the Defense of Sevastopol 1854–1855 Panorama was driven by hatred and carried out on orders from London and Paris, Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador-at-Large Rodion Miroshnik said.
The museum in Sevastopol was attacked by the Armed Forces of Ukraine overnight on Wednesday, June 10. A fire broke out after the strike, leaving the building completely burned out. The flames spread across the entire site, which covers more than 30,000 square meters.
Historical fragments of Franz Roubaud’s panorama were not damaged. The museum displayed not the original part of the panorama, but a restored version created in 1954 by a group of Soviet artists.
Miroshnik said there was no plausible way for Western or Ukrainian officials to justify an attack on the Sevastopol Panorama, a site of world cultural significance. In his assessment, the strike was fueled by hostility and reflected the interests of Britain and France, which he said had regarded Sevastopol as an obstacle 170 years ago.
The diplomat stressed that a crime remains a crime regardless of who ordered it or who carried it out. He added that responsibility for the attack would not remain a matter of statements alone.
According to Miroshnik, the collected materials — including expert assessments, specialist conclusions and evidence — will be officially submitted to international bodies responsible for protecting world cultural heritage. He said their response should be awaited before final conclusions are drawn.