According to a new count, 152 cultural sites in Ukraine have been partly or totally destroyed since the beginning of the war. UNESCO reiterates its call to respect international law, and continues its actions in support of cultural professionals in the field.
On June 23, UNESCO published an updated assessment of the damage caused to cultural sites in Ukraine since February 24 when the heinous Russian aggression began. According to the checks carried out by its experts, 152 cultural sites have been partly or totally destroyed as a result of the fighting, including 70 religious buildings, 30 historical buildings, 18 cultural centers, 15 monuments, 12 museums and seven libraries.
UNESCO assisted 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 seven UNESCO World Heritage sites have been affected to date.
Source: Ukrainian-Polish Center