Russia Invades Ukraine
Iconic Artwork 'Virtually Destroyed' In Crimea Drone Strike
A massive panorama depicting a battle in the 1853-1856 Crimean War has been heavily damaged by what Russian-occupation authorities in Sevastopol say was a Ukrainian drone attack.
1
The building that housed the Siege of Sevastopol panorama burns after a drone strike in the early hours of June 10, which the Crimean city's Russian-occupation authorities blamed on Kyiv.
Images showing charred and water-logged sections of the panorama, one of Crimea's most famous artworks, appear to confirm it was severely damaged by the strike.
Images showing charred and water-logged sections of the panorama, one of Crimea's most famous artworks, appear to confirm it was severely damaged by the strike.
2
This fragment of the painting, filmed after its removal from the smoldering museum, matches a section of the panorama that has been preserved in online archives.
3
A detail of the Siege of Sevastopol panorama photographed in 2015.
The artwork, which depicts an 1855 battle during the Crimean War, is 14 meters high and stretched 115 meters around the interior of its purpose-built exhibition hall.
The artwork, which depicts an 1855 battle during the Crimean War, is 14 meters high and stretched 115 meters around the interior of its purpose-built exhibition hall.
4
Visitors being shown the panorama in Sevastopol in August 2015.
The artwork was first painted in the early 1900s by the Russian-French artist Franz Roubaud, but the original was largely destroyed during the Nazi-led invasion of the Soviet Union. Its surviving remnants were evacuated by sea from Sevastopol in 1942 and stored at an unspecified location.
The artwork was first painted in the early 1900s by the Russian-French artist Franz Roubaud, but the original was largely destroyed during the Nazi-led invasion of the Soviet Union. Its surviving remnants were evacuated by sea from Sevastopol in 1942 and stored at an unspecified location.
5
A detail of the panorama, which combined models and painting, photographed in August 2015.
A three-dimensional recreation of Roubaud's artwork was made in the 1950s and installed in the circular exhibition hall. It is this replica that was damaged in the June 10 strike.
A three-dimensional recreation of Roubaud's artwork was made in the 1950s and installed in the circular exhibition hall. It is this replica that was damaged in the June 10 strike.
6
A fragment of the original panorama on display at a local cinema in Sevastopol on June 10.
Original fragments of Roubaud’s epic painting were being prepared for an exhibition in Sevastopol at the time of the drone strike on June 10. The fragments were in a separate building and were not damaged in the incident.
Original fragments of Roubaud’s epic painting were being prepared for an exhibition in Sevastopol at the time of the drone strike on June 10. The fragments were in a separate building and were not damaged in the incident.
7
Firefighters at work on the roof of the building that housed the Siege of Sevastopol panorama on June 10.
A spokesman for UNESCO voiced “alarm” over reports of the drone strike in an email to RFE/RL, but added that the organization “does not currently have access to the area and could not yet verify the details of the reports.”
A spokesman for UNESCO voiced “alarm” over reports of the drone strike in an email to RFE/RL, but added that the organization “does not currently have access to the area and could not yet verify the details of the reports.”
8
Sections of the artwork after being removed from the damaged building on June 10.
Sevastopol's Kremlin-imposed governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said "it is already clear that Franz Roubaud’s great masterpiece has been virtually destroyed." He added that the artwork had been digitized and "will be recreated in its best form."
Ukraine’s military has not commented on the strike.
Sevastopol's Kremlin-imposed governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said "it is already clear that Franz Roubaud’s great masterpiece has been virtually destroyed." He added that the artwork had been digitized and "will be recreated in its best form."
Ukraine’s military has not commented on the strike.
