Russian collector returns 16th-century icon to Lviv

A Russian collector has returned to Ukraine a 16th-century Icon of the Protection of the Virgin Mary, which was stolen from the Lviv Museum of Ukrainian Art.

According to the State Customs Service of Ukraine, the noble intentions of the Russian collector and philanthropist and owner of the icon, Ihor Voziakov, and the help of the Minister of Culture of Ukraine and the State Service for Control over Transfer of Cultural Valuables across the State Border have secured the icon’s return to Ukraine.

Voziakov offered the icon as a gift to Ukraine, the press service reported.

The press service also noted that workers of the Kyiv Oblast Customs at Boryspil completed the customs procedure for the quick return of the invaluable treasure to Ukraine for almost three decades ago this icon along with many others was stolen form the Lviv Museum of Ukrainian Art (today the Andrey Sheptytsky National Museum in Lviv).