UNESCO steps up protection for Ukrainian heritage sites

As Russia’s war on Ukraine nears its third anniversary, UNESCO, the cultural arm of the United Nations, has been increasing its efforts to safeguard Ukraine’s cultural heritage, which has been severely impacted.

The Babyn Yar site, which honours the more than 33,000 Jews, Roma, and Soviet prisoners massacred by the Nazis in 1941, was itself struck by violence last year when a Russian missile hit nearby, killing five people. While the Holocaust memorial itself was unharmed, a nearby building intended for a new museum was damaged.

The Odesa Literary Museum is dedicated to the literary history of Odesa and renowned writers connected in one way or another to the Black Sea port city. The museum showcases a rich collection of manuscripts, books, and personal items from celebrated authors such as Isaac Babel, Anna Akhmatova, and Valentin Kataev.

UNESCO’s enhanced protection status provides the highest level of immunity to these sites, prohibiting their use for military purposes or direct attacks. According to UNESCO, violations of these protections would constitute a “serious violation” of the 1999 Second Protocol to the Hague Convention, with the potential for international prosecution.

Since the war began in 2022, over 340 cultural sites in Ukraine have been damaged, including 31 museums and numerous religious and historical buildings. UNESCO has already pledged more than $10 million (€9.6 million) in aid to support the restoration of these sites, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in times of conflict.

UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay emphasised the significance of this protection, especially for Babyn Yar. “In times of war, international solidarity is crucial to protect threatened cultural heritage,” she said. “This decision will make it possible to further strengthen the safety of these two Ukrainian cultural sites, including a major site for Holocaust remembrance.”