Since the start of the war, Russia has damaged more than 1,700 cultural heritage sites, according to Lubinets
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Russian troops have been systematically targeting Ukraine’s cultural and historical heritage. Thousands of sites have been damaged during this time, some of which have been completely destroyed.
This was reported by Dmytro Lubinets, the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights.
According to him, “what is a national treasure for us is just another target for the enemy.” He emphasized that Russia is deliberately destroying Ukraine’s cultural and historical heritage in an attempt to erase national memory.
According to available data, since the start of the full-scale invasion, 1,707 cultural heritage sites and 2,503 cultural infrastructure sites have been damaged. Of these, 513 sites have been completely destroyed.
“These are acts of terror that must be met with a strong international response. I thank the staff who, under fire, are preserving, documenting, and protecting our heritage in museums, archives, and communities… I call on the world to protect Ukraine’s historical and cultural heritage. Preserving our roots is our duty to future generations,” the Ombudsman emphasized.
As a reminder, a bill is currently under consideration in the Verkhovna Rada that provides for the creation of mechanisms for the rapid evacuation of cultural heritage objects from frontline regions. The document aims to protect museum treasures and other important historical artifacts in the event of a threat of hostilities.
The Japanese government has announced an additional contribution of $3.8 million to support Ukraine in the fields of culture, education, and media. This initiative, announced on the eve of the anniversary of the full-scale invasion, is aimed at documenting damage to over 1,600 cultural heritage sites and carrying out urgent stabilization work.
