The founder of Art Ukraine Gallery has announced raiding

"I created this gallery back in 2016 after I stopped being the director of Mystetskyi Arsenal. After the full-scale invasion, I decided to launch a new format – an open charity gallery to bring maximum benefit. In October 2022, I met my friend – we exchanged thoughts, and I congratulated her on her husband's appointment as the head of the National Bank of Ukraine. She asked what I was planning to do, and I said that I was looking for a space to rent for the new format of my gallery. She said, 'Oh, interesting,' and I replied, 'Well, join with your foundation, we will do good things together,'” Zabolotna recounts.

Natalia Zabolotna and Lyudmyla Pyshna during the Christmas nativity scene in December 2024 (photo: artukraine.gallery)

Today, according to her, she could not get into the office because the security did not give her the keys, the gallery's banner was removed, and the logo was taken down.

"Lyudmyla Pyshna is walking around with her security, her Mercedes is parked downstairs, and everything is fine for her – she arranged with the management company that they will not renew the contract with me, and I was told that the lease will now be with Lyudmyla Pyshna. I call things by their names: taking my business, my work, my socially responsible case, which was the gallery at the time – this is raiding," she stated.

It is worth noting that the joint project of Art Ukraine Gallery founder, president of the "Foundation for Humanitarian Development of Ukraine" Natalia Zabolotna, and co-founder of the NGO "Vitchuy" Lyudmyla Pyshna began its operations in "Domosfera" in April 2023.

In the first year of the gallery's work, more than 3.5 million hryvnias were raised during charity events. These funds were directed to the needs of the country's largest children's hospital, NDSCH "Okhmatdyt".