Ukraine Condemns Russia’s Return to Venice Biennale

Kyiv has strongly condemned Russia’s participation in the 2026 Venice Biennale, denouncing the move as a legitimization of aggression and a disregard for the ongoing cultural destruction in Ukraine. The Biennale, a prestigious international art exhibition, will observe Russia return for the first time since 2022, following a period of de facto exclusion after artists and curators protested Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Ukrainian Outrage and Accusations

In a statement released on March 8, 2026, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry characterized Russia’s return as sending “a dangerous signal of support for aggression, tolerance of Russian war crimes and the normalization of the Russian occupiers’ genocidal policy.” The Ministry’s statement highlighted Russia’s sustained attacks on Ukrainian cultural heritage, dating back to the 2014 invasion of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts and escalating with the full-scale war in 2022.

The statement detailed the devastating impact of the conflict on Ukraine’s cultural landscape, reporting that 346 artists and 123 Ukrainian and foreign media professionals have been killed by Russia since 2022. 1,707 cultural heritage sites and 2,503 cultural infrastructure objects have been damaged or destroyed.

The Foreign Ministry also referenced Russia’s historical policies of Russification imposed on the Ukrainian people, arguing that any acceptance of Russian representation at international art events is unacceptable. They called for adherence to the values of freedom, human dignity, and international law, and emphasized the importance of solidarity with the Ukrainian people.

Biennale’s Decision and International Reactions

Despite the strong objections from Ukraine, the Venice Biennale has allowed Russia to participate in the 2026 exhibition, which runs from May 9 to November 22. Euronews reported that Russia was never formally banned after the 2022 invasion, but simply absent. This return coincides with a broader trend of “rehabilitation” of Russian athletes in international competitions.

The decision has drawn criticism from other nations as well. Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government has voiced opposition to Russia’s presence, and Lithuania’s foreign minister labeled the move as “abject.” A cross-party group of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) also published a letter condemning Russia’s participation as “unacceptable,” warning that it risks damaging the Biennale’s reputation and moral integrity.

Russia’s Pavilion and Commissioner

Russia leased its pavilion to Bolivia in 2024, but is listed as a participating country for the 2026 exhibition. The Russian pavilion is being led by commissioner Anastasia Karneeva, who was appointed by the Russian Culture Ministry in 2021 for an eight-year term. Reports indicate that Karneeva has personal and professional connections to Russia’s military-industrial complex.

The exhibition, titled ‘The Tree is Rooted in the Sky’, will feature work from over 50 artists from Russia and other countries. Apollo Magazine reported that Mikhail Shvydkoy, Russia’s delegate for international cultural exchanges, stated that Russia “never left” the Biennale, and that the presence of the pavilion itself signifies the country’s continued presence in Venice’s cultural sphere.