Part of the Dovzhenko Film Studio's costume collection was saved after the Russian attack
Part of the unique costume collection at the Oleksandr Dovzhenko National Film Studio survived the Russian attack because the items were not stored exclusively in the destroyed costume workshop. This was reported by the studio’s general director, Andriy Donchik.
According to him, after staff were allowed access to the site of the strike, it became clear that the costume warehouse building had been completely destroyed and it was impossible to salvage the property that had been stored there. At the same time, part of the collection survived because the costumes were stored at several other locations.
Donchik also reported that the archive containing approximately 600 films on film—a significant portion of which has not yet been digitized—was not damaged. Despite the shattered windows and doors in the storage facility, the collection itself remained intact.
According to the head of the film studio, the blast damaged virtually all the windows of the main building and most of the structures on the complex’s grounds. The final extent of the damage is still being assessed.
Donchik noted that patrons, private individuals, and representatives of the film community—who have established a special support fund—are already offering assistance with the restoration. Restoration work is scheduled to be completed before winter sets in.
Despite the destruction, the film studio continues to operate and welcome visitors. In particular, guided tours will be expanded to include locations that showcase the consequences of Russian aggression.
Source: Andriy Donchik, CEO of the Oleksandr Dovzhenko National Film Studio.
Russian troops attacked the Oleksandr Dovzhenko National Film Studio in Kyiv. The strike damaged one of Ukraine’s oldest film studios and destroyed the country’s largest and oldest costume collection.
On August 14, 2025, a panel of judges at the High Anti-Corruption Court handed down a verdict against the former chief engineer of the state-owned enterprise “Oleksandr Dovzhenko National Film Studio” and the general director of a private company. The officials were found guilty of embezzling over 4.4 million hryvnias from the state-owned enterprise.
