Ukrainian official calls on allies to ‘boycott’ Russian culture

Pyrotechnics during the grand finale of the final performance lead by Stephen Barlow conducting the Bournemouth Sympathy Orchestra and Chorus during a performance of 1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky at Classic FM Live at London’s Royal Albert Hall (Matt Crossick/PA)

A top Ukrainian official Oleksandr Tkachenko has urged the country’s allies to boycott Russian culture – and ban Russian composer Tchaikovsky from performances – until the “bloody invasion” comes to an end.

Mr Tkachenko said over 800 cases of destruction of Ukrainian culture, including destroyed museums, liquidated libraries and erasure of the word Ukraine, have been recorded by its ministry of culture and information policy since Russia’s invasion of its neighbour began on February 24.