Due to the outbreak of war in Ukraine and the threat posed by warfare to the tangible cultural heritage located there, the Polonika Institute took immediate action to protect the monuments. An essential element in minimising the consequences of their loss is the development of appropriate documentation, so the decision was taken to carry out laser scanning of the most important objects.

Laser scanning is currently the most effective and precise inventory method, which allows a large amount of highly accurate data to be acquired in a relatively short period of time. 3D scans of historic buildings have many useful applications: they are crucial for scientific research and conservation work, can be used for popularisation and educational purposes, and, most importantly in this case, are an invaluable aid for architects and conservators working on reconstructions.

As a first step, the Institute commissioned laser scanning of the most valuable churches from the Lviv region:

• Orthodox Church of the Holy Eucharist (former Corpus Christi Church) in Lviv,
• St Andrew's Church (former St Andrew's Church) in Lviv
• the Church of the Protection of the Mother of God (former St. Nicholas Church) in Lviv
• the churches of the Assumption, Holy Cross and St Bartholomew in Drohobych.

These objects, due to their historical and artistic value, have long been of interest to the Polonica Institute. In previous years, the Institute has funded and coordinated a number of conservation projects related to them. Thanks to laser scanning, the exact appearance of the shrines, their state of preservation and dimensions have been recorded, so that, in the event of possible destruction during hostilities, later reconstruction will be possible. In addition, the digital versions of the scanned monuments saved in the form of a point cloud can be further processed, providing important support for further conservation work.

Executor: SKEIRON Sp. z o.o.

The Polonika Institute, continuing laser scanning of the most valuable churches in Ukraine, has commissioned the scanning of several more churches:

• St. Lawrence Collegiate Church in Zhovkva,
• the Greek Catholic Church of St. Josaphat Kuncewicz Bishop and Martyr in Zhovkva (former Dominican church),
• the Church of the Protection of St. Joseph in Rawicz The Church of the Protection of St. Joseph in Rava-Ruska,
• the Church of St. Michael the Archangel and the Reformati Monastery in Rava-Ruska,
• the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Kamyanets-Podilskyi
• St. Nicholas Church and Dominican Monastery in Kamyanets-Podilskyi,

St. George Archcathedral Cathedral in Lviv.
Executor: SKEIRON Ltd.

The Institute commissioned laser scanning of 8 wooden churches from the UNESCO World Heritage List. These are objects located in:

Lviv region:

• Church of Pentecost in Potylicz,
• St. Dmitri Cathedral in Matkaŭ,
• Holy Trinity Church in Zhovkva,
• St George's Church in Drohobych,

in Ivano-Frankivsk Region:

• Holy Spirit Church in Rohatyn,
• Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos in Verbijon Nizhny,

in the Transcarpathian region:

• Church of the Ascension of the Lord in Yasin,
• Church of St Michael the Archangel in Uzhok.

Executor: 3Deling

Within the framework of cooperation with the Lviv Regional State Administration, POLONIKA Institute undertook to finance the laser scanning of another 13 objects. Monuments from the region for which the ongoing hostilities pose the greatest threat were selected for digitisation. These are:

Niesłuchów - St Michael the Archangel Orthodox Church,

Wisłoboki - Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary,

Milatyń Nowy - Church of the Elevation of the Holy Cross,

Milatyń Nowy - inn (tavern),

Milatyń Nový - monument dedicated to the victory at the Battle of Chocim,

Stary Dobrotwór - St. Dmitri's chapel,

Krasne - Orthodox Church of St. Prophet Elijah,

Bojaniec - St. Michael the Archangel Church,

Mitulin - the Orthodox Church of the Protection of the Mother of God,

Popiele - the Orthodox Church of the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary,

Vřibiany - Orthodox church of the Nativity of the Holy Mother of God,

Brzozdowce - Church of the Elevation of the Holy Cross,

Cherepin - Church of the Meeting of the Lord.

Executor: SKEIRON Ltd.

Conservation works carried out in 2022, Conservation Programme, Polonica Institute