After theft from Radvilas Palace Art Museum, police seek man in photos

Vilnius police are appealing for public assistance to identify a man seen on surveillance footage related to the theft of a valuable artwork from the Radvilas Palace Art Museum. The incident occurred on June 28 around 1:30 p.m. when a photograph by renowned Ukrainian artist Boris Mikhailov was stolen from the museum.

The stolen piece, valued at 7,000 euros, is a photograph from Mikhailov's 1993 series "As Evening Comes." This series captures daily life in Ukraine two years after its declaration of independence, reflecting the anxieties of an uncertain future. The artwork was on display as part of the "Ukrainian Dreamers: Kharkiv School of Photography" exhibition, a joint project with the Serhiyivka Art Museum in Kharkiv.

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We can only speculate about the motives for the crime at this time. We hope that the officers will be able to clarify everything and return the photograph. The stolen work is valuable, but the loss is not only financial – it is also an emotional loss for the exhibition's creative team and the community of creators who enthusiastically prepared this exhibition for Lithuanian visitors.

Museum officials discovered the artwork missing shortly after the theft, but the perpetrator had already fled. The police have initiated a pre-trial investigation and are examining the circumstances surrounding the crime. Justina Augustytė, director of the LNDM Radvilas Palace Art Museum, expressed regret over the incident, emphasizing the loss is not only financial but also emotional for the exhibition's creative team and the artistic community.

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We are asking for help – if you recognize the man captured in the photos, please immediately inform Daiva Žilinskytė, senior investigator of the 1st Operations Department of the Vilnius City Third Police Commissariat, by phone +370 646 32147, email daiva.zilinskyte@policija.lt, or by calling the emergency services number 112.