Ministry of Culture of Ukraine: Russia has destroyed 1,640 Ukrainian cultural heritage sites
The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine has reported the number of Ukrainian cultural monuments that have been destroyed by Russia. This information was shared during a press conference at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve by Ivan Verbytskyi, the Deputy Minister of Culture for Cultural Heritage Protection, as reported by LB.
“As of now, 1,640 monuments in Ukraine have been destroyed or damaged due to Russian attacks,” Verbytskyi stated. “The Russian war poses a significant threat to Ukrainian heritage, including sites that are part of the world's cultural heritage.”
He also made an appeal to Western partners for assistance: “We urge member countries of the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage to help safeguard these world monuments in Ukraine. Air defense systems are crucial for protecting these sites so that Russian weapons cannot reach and destroy them. We also require energy equipment, such as generators and dehumidifiers, since many museums, including the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, currently lack heating and power. This hampers our ability to maintain suitable conditions for the preservation of cultural treasures.”
As reported, on the night of January 24, the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve, which is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List, was damaged during a large-scale Russian missile and drone attack.
