Destruction of Ukrainian cultural heritage: UNESCO Committee strongly condemns Russia's actions for the first time

This was reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, according to Ukrinform.

The ministry calls this decision a significant victory for the Ukrainian delegation consisting of representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy headed by Anastasia Bondar. According to the ministry, the decision was made during the consideration of the state of preservation of the Ukrainian World Heritage Sites "Kyiv: St. Sophia Cathedral and adjacent monastery buildings, Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, Lviv - Historical Center Ensemble" and "Historical Center of Odesa".

Following the review and voting, the World Heritage Committee (WHC) also called for the fulfillment of its obligations under international law, including Article 6 of the World Heritage Convention.

"Today's decision of the World Heritage Committee has long-term positive consequences for Ukraine. Firstly, the Committee has finally recorded in its official documents that the Russian Federation is the cause of the threat to Ukraine's cultural heritage sites. We can finally avoid vague wording about "appeals to all parties," said Iryna Borovets, head of the National Commission for UNESCO and Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine.

She noted that the WHC'c support of Ukraine sends a clear signal to the aggressor country that the civilized world stands with Ukraine in restoring justice and protecting its cultural heritage.

For the first time, the UNESCO Committee strongly condemned Russia's full-scale aggression and the targeted destruction of cultural heritage and Ukrainian identity, the Foreign Ministry emphasized.

According to the press service of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, 48 countries expressed support for Ukraine during the meeting of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.

"During the first day of work, 46 countries (2 more countries joined later) strongly expressed their support for Ukraine, condemning Russia's cynical actions against Ukrainian cultural heritage," the statement said.

Among other things, the Statement emphasizes that the aggressive actions of the Russian Federation violate the core values and objectives of the Organization, as well as the 1972 Convention.

It also calls on Russia to immediately cease all illegal hostilities against Ukraine, withdraw all its armed forces and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.

The World Heritage Committee comprises representatives of 21 States Parties to the World Heritage Convention (1972), elected by the UNESCO General Assembly.

The current members of the World Heritage Committee (following the elections at the 24th session of the UNESCO General Assembly in November 2023) are Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Kenya, Mexico, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Ukraine, Qatar, Turkey, Ukraine, Vietnam, and Zambia.