In 2025, the system of state archives of Ukraine produced almost 53 million digital copies of documents, which is one of the highest figures in the history of independence. This was reported during the presentation of the public report of the State Archival Service of Ukraine at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.
According to Anatoliy Khromov, head of the State Archive, despite the challenges of a full-scale war, the archival system has demonstrated resilience and dynamic development, and digitalization has become a key area of work.
“Almost 53 million scanned copies of documents were created during the year, and the total amount of materials available online through the Interarchival Search Portal has increased to about 20 million digital copies. This greatly expands the ability of citizens and researchers to work with documents remotely,” , Khromov said.
According to him, Ukraine continues to increase the pace of digitalization of archival heritage and cooperates with international partners. In particular, during the year, memorandums were signed with the Institute of National Memory of Slovakia and the National Archives of Sweden, and agreements with the international organization FamilySearch International were updated.
“These steps open up new opportunities for exchanging copies of documents, implementing joint research projects, and integrating Ukrainian archives into the international archival space,” the head of the agency emphasized.
A separate area of work is the historical and documentary project “Ukrainian Martyrology of the Twentieth Century,” which already contains information on more than 155 thousand repressed people and aims to restore historical justice and preserve national memory.
The State Archives Service emphasizes that digitization of documents is of strategic importance in times of war, as it allows not only to provide access to information but also to preserve the country’s cultural and historical heritage from possible losses.
As reported, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy enacted a decision of the National Security and Defense Council to impose personal special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions) on individuals and entities involved, in particular, in the theft of cultural property and documents of the National Archival Fond of Ukraine.
https://interfax.com.ua/news/culture/1147369.html
More than 20 million digitized documents have already been collected in the state “online archive” system, where users can search for materials by keywords, Head of the State Archival Service of Ukraine Anatolii Khromov said in an exclusive interview for the Culture desk of Interfax-Ukraine news agency.
“It was presented in 2022, and now the system already contains more than 20 million digitized documents, which can be searched by keywords,” Khromov said.
According to him, the digitization of the archival system has several levels. The first is basic access in reading rooms, where visitors can work with materials and take photos of documents on their own phone. The second is professional digitization using specialized scanners and software, which requires significant resources and is financed through partnership agreements and a special archives fund.
Khromov also noted that today virtually all state archives have their own websites, and the system operates inter-archive search portals that enable users to find information remotely.
Separately, he emphasized the transition of archives to a service-based access model: basic options for users remain free of charge, while additional services are paid due to the need for resources.
“People can work in reading rooms free of charge, view materials online, and make their own digital copies. But if someone needs a professional scan copy, official certification, or special document processing, this is already a separate procedure that requires resources,” the Head of the State Archival Service explained.
He clarified that the free options include, in particular, work in the reading room and self-copying, but for this a person needs to physically come to the archive. At the same time, remote copying, he said, may cost approximately about UAH 5 per page, which for many is more convenient and cheaper than travel expenses.
According to Khromov, digital tools and expanded online access are also important for security during wartime: digital copies allow reducing the physical use of originals and keeping them in storage facilities, minimizing the risks of damage to documents.
Source — Interfax-Ukraine
