Emotional Presence, User Engagement, and Cultural Memory in Virtual Reconstructions of Ukrainian Heritage: A Mixed-Methods Study

Objective: This study examined emotional presence, perceived authenticity, user engagement, and interpretations of cultural memory during virtual reality (VR) encounters with Ukrainian heritage.. Methods and Materials: An observational mixed-methods study involved 140 adults aged 18–45 in Lviv and Kyiv, Ukraine, during 2024–2025. Participants explored virtual reconstructions of St. Sophia Cathedral, Khotyn Fortress, and St. George’s Church in Drohobych. Data were collected using an 18-item questionnaire, interaction logs, spatial activity maps, and semi-structured interviews with 15 participants. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, ANOVA, multiple regression, and thematic analysis were employed. Findings: Mean scores were 4.01 ± 0.68 for emotional presence, 3.87 ± 0.72 for perceived authenticity, 3.74 ± 0.75 for educational value, and 4.09 ± 0.63 for engagement. Emotional presence correlated positively with engagement (r = .72, p < .01), authenticity (r = .58, p < .01), and interaction time (r = .52, p < .01). Reported regression results identified emotional presence as the strongest engagement correlate (β = .481, p < .001), although inferential inconsistencies require verification. Interviews identified emotional presence (13/15), authenticity and trust (11/15), and cultural memory (10/15) as recurring themes. Spatial interaction patterns varied descriptively across monuments. Conclusion: VR heritage encounters elicited favorable experiential ratings and narratives of cultural continuity. However, causal improvements in memory, cultural identity, or psychological recovery were not established.