Since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine War (2022–present), hundreds of heritage sites have been destroyed or damaged. This reportage, written two years after the start of the war, explores the ongoing efforts to preserve and reconstruct Ukrainian cultural heritage amid the Russia-Ukraine War. The narrative takes readers through various locations in Ukraine, where museum workers, historians and cultural activists strive to protect and commemorate the nation’s history under the constant threat of war. The article underscores the role of heritage in defining national identity and resilience, even as the war seeks to destroy these very foundations. Originally published in Dutch in De Groene Amsterdammer in February 2024, this piece captures the intertwining of war, memory and the struggle for cultural survival in Ukraine.