UNESCO listed Ukrainian heritage sites as endangered

According to the report from Censor.NET, UNESCO's decision was based on the threat of destruction due to the advance of Russian forces in Ukraine.

The committee meeting, held in Riyadh until September 25, included "Saint Sophia Cathedral and related monastic buildings and Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra" and "Lviv - historic center ensemble" on the list of World Heritage Sites in danger.

UNESCO also noted that the optimal conditions to ensure the protection of these outstanding universal values are no longer being met, and there is a potential danger due to the ongoing conflict. The sites are considered vulnerable to shockwaves caused by bombings in both cities.

UNESCO believes that these heritage sites in Kyiv and Lviv remain under constant threat since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion. However, they also acknowledge the efforts of the Ukrainian government to protect these cultural assets.

The inclusion of these sites in the list of World Heritage Sites in Danger reminds the 195 member states of their responsibility under the Convention to monitor and contribute to the protection of these sites. It also opens up the possibility of receiving additional financial and technical assistance to take extraordinary measures in line with actions already taken by Ukraine in cooperation with UNESCO.

In January 2023, UNESCO had previously added the Historic Center of Odesa to the list of World Heritage Sites in danger.