According to a new count, 152 cultural sites in Ukraine have been partially or totally destroyed since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war.
In its latest publication, UNESCO gave an updated assessment of the damage caused to cultural sites in Ukraine since February 24, 2022. The oprganisatrion said that 70 religious buildings, 30 historical buildings, 18 cultural centres, 15 monuments, 12 museums and seven libraries were among those destroyed.
Reiterating its call to respect international law, UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay stressed that the repeated attacks on Ukrainian cultural sites must stop. “Cultural heritage, in all its forms, should not be targeted under any circumstances. I reiterate my call for the respect of international humanitarian law, in particular the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.”
Three-quarters of the damaged sites are in three regions: the Donetsk region, where the fighting is still particularly intense – with 45 damaged cultural sites – the Kharkiv region with 40 damaged sites and the Kyiv region – with 26 damaged sites,
EMERGENCY MEASURES
UNESCO said that it had initiated a series of emergency measures to prevent as much destruction as possible. The Organisation provided technical advice to cultural professionals in the field to protect buildings and inventory works, shelters were identified to secure objects that could be moved, and fire-fighting measures were reinforced UNESCO also assisted the Ukrainian authorities in marking cultural sites with the distinctive blue shield emblem. “This Symbol indicates that the property is protected under the 1954 Hague Convention. Therefore, any infringement is considered a violation of international law and can be prosecuted. It should also be noted that none of the 7 UNESCO World Heritage sites have been affected to date,” the organisation said.
FUTURE RECONSTRUCTION
UNESCO said that though it was still too early to start work, it had already created a fund dedicated to actions in support of Ukraine and has launched an appeal for contributions to its Member States for a rapid response. With the same objective, UNESCO is in the process of setting up a team dedicated to the protection of cultural property, also based in Kyiv, and will soon send a mission of heritage experts to the country, it said.
DAMAGED CULTURAL SITES
- Historic building of the regional youth center, formerly the Shchors Cinema – (Chernihiv)
- Church of St. Theodosius (Chernihiv)
- The Military Historical Museum – a branch of the Chernihiv Historical Museum – (Chernihiv region)
- Building of regional children’s library (former Vasyl Tarnovsky Museum of Ukrainian Antiquities) – (Chernihiv region)
- St. Catherine Church of Chernihiv – (Chernihiv)
- Former District Court House in Chernihiv (built in 1904) – (Chernihiv)
- Chernihiv Regional Universal Scientific Library. V.G. Korolenko (built in 1910-13)
- St. Kazan Church in Chernihiv – (Chernihiv)
- Memorial cemetery with a memorial sign to the dead and the chapel of St. Archangel Michael (built in 2014-21) – (Chernihiv)
- Voskresenska Church (built in 1913) – (Chernihiv)
- Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (built in 1801-04) – (Chernihiv)
- Central City Library M. Kotsiubynsky – (Chernihiv)
- Regional Art Museum. G. Galagana (built in 1899) – (Chernihiv)
- House of Culture – Ivanivka (Chernihiv region)
Kyiv Region
- Ivankiv Museum – (Kyiv Region)
- Voznesens’ka Tserkva, Church of the Ascension – (Kyiv Region)
- Old church (Tserkva Heorhiyivsʹka) in Zavorychi village of Kyiv region – (Kyiv Region)
- Petro-Pavlivska Church – (Kyiv region)
- The Irpin Bible Seminary – (Kyiv region)
- Memorial monument to villagers who died in the Second World War – (Kyiv region)
- House of Culture (built in 1952-54) – (Kyiv region)
- Church of the Resurrection of Christ – (Kyiv region)
- Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (built in 2008) – (Kyiv region)
- Monument to the fallen soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (established between 2014 and 2021) – (Kyiv region)
- Bust of Taras Shevchenko in Borodyanka (established in 1999) – (Kyiv region)
- Wooden Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (built in 1892) – (Kyiv region)
- Church St. Georgiy Pobidonosets in Irpin (built in 2021) – (Kyiv region)
- Convent of the Icon of the Mother of God “Uslyshatelnytsya” in Fasova village (built in 2012-16) – (Kyiv region)
- Holy Trinity Church (built in 1909-15) – (Kyiv region)
- Mass grave of soldiers and a monument to compatriots who died during the Great Patriotic War (established in 1951) – (Kyiv region)
- Memorial monument to Afghan soldiers – (Kyiv region)
- Church of Saints Elijah and Apostle Andrew the First-Called (built in 1997) – (Kyiv region)
- Local History Museum of Borodyanshchyna in Borodyanka – (Kyiv region)
- Central City Library in Irpin – (Kyiv region)
- Palace of Culture. T.G. Shevchenko – (Kyiv region)
- Monument to St. Archangel Michael in Borodiyanka (established in 2015) – (Kyiv region)
- Makarivska Public Library (building of the early twentieth century) – (Kyiv region)
- Monument to workers killed in World War II (renovated in 2016) – (Kyiv region)
- Church of St. John the Baptist – Moshchun – (Kyiv region)
- Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Lypivka (Kyiv region
Kharkiv Region
- Orthodox church in Kamianka village of Izyum – (Kharkiv)
- Uspensky Cathedral – Assumption Cathedral – (Kharkiv)
- Kharkiv Court of Appeal building – (Kharkiv)
- Historical “Slovo” building – (Kharkiv)
- Kharkiv Art Museum – (Kharkiv)
- Church of the Holy Queen Tamara – (Kharkiv)
- Kharkiv National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater – (Kharkiv)
- Residential historical building in Kharkiv – (Kharkiv)
- Kharkiv State Scientific Library (Korolenko State Scientific Library) – (Kharkiv)
- Building of the faculty of Economics of Kharkiv National University – (Kharkiv)
- Building of the former “Palace of Labor” – (Kharkiv)
- Church of the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women – (Kharkiv)
- Building of the former central lecture hall in Constitution Square (Kharkiv)
- Historic residential building of the XIXth century (Kharkiv)
- Memorial Complex of Glory in Kharkiv – (Kharkiv)
- The monument of architecture “house of the former store “Lux” (XIXth century) (Kharkiv)
- Drobytskyi Yar Holocaust Memorial (Kharkiv)
- Historical complex of building of fire department buit in 1886 – (Kharkiv)
- Former women’s gymnasium (built in 1870s) – (Kharkiv region)
- Kharkiv school No 7 (built in 1906-07) – (Kharkiv)
- Building of the Department of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Izyum City Council (building of the XIXth century) – (Kharkiv region)
- Building of the Research Institute of Venereology (building 1889) – (Kharkiv)
- Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (built in 1838) – (Kharkiv region)
- Church of the 2000th anniversary of the Nativity of Christ in Kharkiv (built in 1999-2001) – (Kharkiv)
- V.A. Afanasiev Kharkiv State Academic Puppet Theater (built in 1906-1907) – (Kharkiv)
- Holy Ascension Cathedral (All-Holy Church) in Izyum (built in 1826, completed in 1902-03) – (Kharkiv region)
- Church of the Cross (built in 1809-23) – (Kharkiv region)
- Church of Saint Demetrios of Soluneia – (Kharkiv region)
- Former Palace of Culture for the railway workers in Kharkiv (Central House of Science and Technology of the Southern Railway) – (Kharkiv)
- Memorial to the Victims of Totalitarianism (built in 1991-2000) – (Kharkiv)
- Kharkiv Regional Palace of Children and Youth (House of Children’s and Youth Creativity, built in 1851-53) – (Kharkiv)
- Church of the Transfiguration (built in 2011-13) – (Kharkiv)
- Church of St. George the Victorious – (Kharkiv)
- Strytenska Church in Lisne (built in 2018) – (Kharkiv region)
- Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (built in 1991-96) – (Kharkiv region)
- Hryhorii Skovoroda National Literary Memorial Museum – Skovorodynivka – (Kharkiv region)
- City House of Culture – Derhachi (Kharkiv region)
- St. Andrew’s Church – Kharkiv (Kharkiv region)
- Holy Assumption Church – Korobochkyne (Kharkiv region)
- House of Culture – Lozova (Kharkiv region)
Zaporizhzhya region
- Church of St. Tikhon of Zadonsky – (Zaporizhzhya region)
- Historical and Architectural Museum “Popov Manor” (Historical and architectural museum reserve “Sadyba Popova”, complex of the 19th century) – (Zaporizhzhya region)
- Former House of Heinrich Janzen (built in the late nineteenth century) – Orikhiv (Zaporizhzhya region)
- Zaporizhzhya-ii Railway station (architectural monument of local significance built in 1904) – Zaporizhzhya (Zaporizhzhya region)
Zhytomyr Region
- Orthodox church near Zhytomyr (Church of the Blessed Virgin of the Ovruch Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church) – (Zhytomyr Region)
- Church of St. Nicholas (Church of the Holy Veil defrocked Archimandrite Agathangelos) – (Zhytomyr Region)
Donetsk Region
- Svyatogorsk Holy Dormition Lavra – (Donetsk region)
- Church of St. Nicholas of Myrlikiysky Wonderworker – (Donetsk region)
- Chapel of the Holy Martyr Tatiana – (Donetsk region)
- Church of Christ the Savior (Tserkva Khrysta Spasytelya) – (Donetsk region)
- The Drama Theater in Mariupol – (Donetsk region)
- Our Lady of Kazan Orthodox Cathedral in Marinka– (Donetsk region)
- Monument to Metropolitan Ignatium of Mariupol in Mariupol – (Donetsk region)
- St. Archangel Michael Church in Mariupol – (Donetsk region)
- Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Mourners” – (Donetsk region)
- The Holy Transfiguration Church – (Donetsk region)
- St. Nicholas the Wonderworker – (Donetsk region)
- Church of the Nativity of the blessed Virgin Mary in Mariupol – (Donetsk region)
- St. Dmytrivska Church (built in 1850-61) – (Donetsk region)
- Mariupol Museum of Local Lore – (Donetsk region)
- Residential building of the XIXth century in Mariupol – (Donetsk region)
- Residential buildings in Mariupol (1930-41) – (Donetsk region)
- Monument to V.G. Korolenko in Mariupol (installed in 1966) – (Donetsk region)
- City palace of Culture in Mariupol (built in 1952) – (Donetsk region)
- St. Volodymyr’s Church in Mariupol (built in 1999-2000) – (Donetsk region)
- Church Vifaniya in Mariupol (building of the early XXI century) – (Donetsk region)
- Yuryev’s House in Mariupol (building of the late nineteenth century) – (Donetsk region)
- City palace of Culture “Ukrainian House” in Mariupol – (Donetsk region)
- Palace of Culture “Iskra” (building 1960) – (Donetsk region)
- Center for Contemporary Art and Culture named after A. Kuindzhi in Mariupol (built in 2004) – (Donetsk region)
- Palace of Culture “Molodizhny” in Mariupol (built between 1887-1910) – (Donetsk region)
- Chaika House of Culture in Mariupol – (Donetsk region)
- Holy Trinity Church in Mariupol (built in 2010) – (Donetsk region)
- School of Arts in Mariupol (built in 1953) – (Donetsk region)
- Estate of A. Tregubov (buildings of the end of XIXth – beginning of XXth century) – (Donetsk region)
- House with a spire tower in Mariupol (built in 1953) – (Donetsk region)
- Central City Library V.G.Korolenko in Mariupol – (Donetsk region)
- Building of the former Alexander Men’s Gymnasium (built in 1894-99) – (Donetsk region)
- Artem House of Culture (built in 1926) – Lyman – (Donetsk region)
- St. George’s Church – Dolyna – (Donetsk region)
- House of Culture named after Karl Marx and Museum of the History of Ilyich complex – Mariupol – (Donetsk region)
- Holy Transfiguration Church – Mariupol – (Donetsk region)
- Holy Dormition Church – Mariupol – (Donetsk region)
- Church of the Blessed Virgin “Joy of All Who Sorrow” – Bohorodychne (Donetsk region)
- Wooden All Saints’ Hermitage – Sviatohirsk (Donetsk region)
- St. Nicholas Church – Lyman (Donetsk region)
- Church of St. Theodosius of Chernihiv – Stavky (Donetsk region)
- Volodymyrska baptismal church – Lyman (Donetsk region)
- Mariinsky Women’s Gymnasium (built in 1894) – Mariupol (Donetsk region)
- Pokrovsky Monastery – Lyman (Donetsk region)
- Building of the early twentieth century that houses a synagogue – Mariupol (Donetsk region)
Lugansk Region
- St. Catherine’s Church (Katerynynsʹka Tserkva) – (Luhansk region)
- Church in honor of the Icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” in Sverodonets – (Luhansk region)
- Islamic Cultural Centre “Bismillah” in Severodonetsk– (Luhansk region)
- Church of the Nativity in Severodonetsk– (Luhansk region)
- St. Tykhvin Church – (Luhansk region)
- St. Nicholas Chuch – (Luhansk region)
- Church of St. Luke of Crimea (building of the early XXI century) – (Luhansk region)
- Building of the former Soda barracks (Built in 1895) – Lysychansk – (Luhansk region)
- Three Saints Church – Popasna (Luhansk region)
- Youth Center (Building of the former club of engineers) – Lysychansk (Luhansk region)
- Popasna Railway station (architectural monument of local significance, built in 1878-93) – Popasna (Luhansk region)
- Church of the Pochayiv Icon of the Mother of God – Rubizhne (Luhansk region)
Sumy Region
- Okhtyrka City Museum of Local Lore – (Sumy region)
- Architectural monument of the former People’s House (1911-1914) – (Sumy region)
- Historical monument f architecture of national importance – the house of the estate manager L.E. Koenig (1911) – (Sumy region)
- Monument in honor of the 183rd Tank Brigade (WW2) – (Sumy region)
- Okhtyrka City Council (building of the 20th century) – (Sumy region)
- Locomotive depot “Smorodyne” (building 1877) – (Sumy region)
- The main house museum of the estate L.E. Koenig (building from the late XVIII century – 1870; part of Trostyanetsky Museum and Exhibition Center) – (Sumy region)
- Mass grave of Soviet soldiers and Monument in Velyka Pysarivka village – (Sumy region)
Mykolaiv region
- Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (built in 1852) – Kyselivka (Mykolaiv region)