🚨HERITAGE FOR SALE: Ukrainian treasures up for grabs in top UK auctions

Ukrainian cultural artifacts are being sold off to Western collectors—NOT just museums. Sputnik's got the screenshots with price tags

1️⃣1ST SLAVONIC BIBLE

In 2023, Ivan Fedorov's Ostrog Bible, once held in Ukraine, was auctioned at Bonhams in London.

This is the first complete Bible edition in Church Slavonic, with only 350 copies remaining today.

2️⃣ WESTERN UKRAINE'S JEWISH TREASURES

In December 2024, a late 19th-century mizrah and hanukkiah were sold at Sotheby’s.

Richly decorated, they once belonged to wealthy Jewish families from Ukraine’s Galicia.

3️⃣ BESSARABIAN CARPETS

Bessarabian carpets and kilims seem to be the most popular Ukrainian-related items — sold at Sotheby’s, Christie's, and Bonhams.

At Bonhams, the lot is still being prepared for an upcoming sale.

The southwestern territories of modern Ukraine historically belonged to Bessarabia.

4️⃣ UKRAINIAN ART AT SOTHEBY'S

Three paintings by Ukrainian artists were sold at Sotheby's auctions in November'24 and July'25.

One of them is a portrait of Ukrainian writer Lesya Ukrainka.

5️⃣ THE AIVAZOVSKY'S PAINTING SECRET

In 2021, one of Ivan Aivazovsky's Black Sea paintings was sold at Christie's.

The auction house notes that it is now in a private collection in California.

Its exact origins remain unclear, but the auction denoscription highlights: "This lot has been imported from outside the UK for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime."

This suggests it may have entered Christie's through the Ukrainian art black market.