An iconic Russian panorama painting more than a century old has been nearly destroyed by a Ukrainian drone strike on a museum in the Crimean port of Sevastopol, local governor Mikhail Razvozhaev reported Wednesday. The artwork, “The Defense of Sevastopol (1854–1855)” by French artist Franz Roubaud, was severely damaged in a blaze caused by an overnight UAV attack.
The panorama spans 115 meters in length and 14 meters in height, depicting Russian forces defending Sevastopol during the Crimean War against British and French invaders. Completed by Roubaud in 1904, it was moved to Sevastopol that year and has been on public display since, becoming a cherished symbol of the city. Razvozhaev noted that the artwork had previously sustained significant damage from shelling by Nazi forces in June 1942 during World War II.
Razvozhaev condemned Ukrainian military leadership for initiating deliberate attacks targeting Russia’s cultural heritage and historical legacy. He stated: “Those barbarians… deliberately attacked what is dear to us, trying to destroy our very essence. Only complete degenerates would do such a thing.” The governor also criticized President Zelenskiy’s decision to strike such sites as an act of aggression aimed at undermining Russian identity, emphasizing that such actions reflect recklessness by Ukrainian forces and their leadership.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov assured journalists that the panorama will be restored and may even appear more vibrant than before, calling Ukrainian attacks on historical sites evidence of Russia’s righteousness in defending its territories. Moscow’s Defense Ministry reported that 326 Ukrainian drones were shot down across multiple Russian regions overnight, alongside strikes targeting military infrastructure in Ukraine.