In view of the hostilities conducted by Russia against Ukraine, the POLONIKA Institute, together with its Ukrainian partners, is securing valuable cultural heritage objects at risk of destruction.

Since the first days of the Russian attack, the POLONIKA Institute has been in contact with Ukrainian institutions, owners and hosts of historical objects, constantly cooperating with, among others, the Director of the Board for the Protection of the Historical Environment of the Lviv City Council, Lilia Onyshchenko. Polish and Ukrainian conservators and companies, which in previous years, on behalf of the Polonika Institute, carried out conservation work in Ukraine, joined in the work of protecting monuments threatened by war.

The activity of the Polonika Institute is part of a broader programme of support for Ukrainian institutions, coordinated by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.

Fire and shrapnel and shockwave protection
Protection of this kind involves, among other things, preparing special fire extinguishers with the appropriate power, wrapping sculptures, paintings and other furnishings with non-flammable materials, building steel structures to protect facades, monuments, sculptural and architectural details, and covering windows to protect historic stained glass. The manner and methods of protection depend on the object and its location, as well as on the possibilities arising from technical conditions and the consent of the administrator of the object. Many of the windows are subject to religious worship, which also disqualified some of the work.

The following were supplied to carry out the above tasks:

-25 kg fire extinguishers - 179 pieces.
-5 kg extinguishers - 34 units.
-9 kg extinguishers - 4 pcs.
-Gaussons 6 kg - 7 pcs.
-12xABC extinguishers - 30 units.
-SUG 12xABC automatic fire extinguishers - 20 units.
-Vapour-proof membranes (flame retardant) - 2025 sq. m.
-Firefighting blankets of various sizes (256 pieces) - 1282.92 sq. m.
-Ceramic fireproof fabrics - 1420 sq. m.
-Protective sheets 1.4 x 1.8 m - 12.6 sq. m.
-Nonwoven fabrics - 6400 sq. m.
-Common vapour permeable membranes - (33 pieces) 2475 sq. m.
-Polypropylene bags - 3059 pcs.
-Hexagon mesh 5 x 1m 1mm 25 mm - 50 sq m
-Hexagon mesh 5 x 0.5 1mm 25 mm - 57.5 sq m
-Electrodes (two types) - 187 pcs.
-Tie wire - 27 pcs.
-Tension wire - 10 pcs.
-Fireproof cord - 10 kg
-Cord and fibreglass - 15 pcs.
-Exterior mounting tape - 40 pcs.
-Interior mounting tape - 40 pcs.
-Fire-resistant tape - 3 pieces.
- Non-flammable aluminium tape - 48 rolls.

In addition to supplying specialist fire protection equipment (intended primarily to protect large buildings and wooden elements, e.g. historic roof trusses) or materials for the protection of sculptures, paintings, altars or stained glass, POLONIKA assists on site in organising the work and also in storing and distributing the necessary materials in Ukraine.

Installation of automatic fire alarm systems
In response to a request made by the Department of Architecture and Urban Development of the Lviv Regional State Administration, POLONIKA Institute financed the fitting out of four wooden churches in the Lviv region (Dormition of the Mother of God Church in Glinyany, Church of the Meeting of the Lord in Cherepin, St. Nicholas Church in Vodininka, St. Nicholas Church in Vodininka, St. Nicholas Church in Vodininka and St. Nicholas Church in Vodininka). St. Nicholas Church in Vodininka, St. Nicholas Church in Dmytrovichi) with automatic fire alarm and fire notification systems, as well as a lightning protection system (church in Vodininka).

Executor: Varta Bezpeka Sp. z o.o.