Ukrainian Archives during the Russian Invasion: An Interview with Andriy Kohut

This interview with Dr. Andriy Kohut, Director of the Sectoral State Archive of the Security Service of Ukraine, sheds light on the critical challenges and unexpected resilience of Ukrainian archives amidst the ongoing Russian invasion. Kohut details how archives have become direct targets, with instances of looting, destruction, and removal of materials to Russia, particularly those related to Soviet-era secret police documents. Despite these threats, including daily shelling and air raid alarms that disrupt work, the SSU Archive has remarkably maintained operations, fulfilling requests, renewing digitization efforts, and publishing books. The interview explores the motivations behind Russia’s targeting of these historical records, noting their interest in both contemporary and historical files, including those from the Russian Empire period. Kohut describes the strategic decision-making involved in evacuating collections and the international support received for equipment. He emphasizes the paradox of the war, which has spurred global interest in Ukrainian history while simultaneously hindering physical access to archives. The discussion highlights the importance of decolonizing knowledge about the region by presenting perspectives beyond Moscow and critically approaching Soviet secret service documents. The interview concludes by underscoring the enduring significance of opening these archives to understand Russia’s methods and support Ukraine’s ongoing struggle.