National Commission for UNESCO calls on organisation's leadership to respond to Russian strikes on cultural institutions

Daria Lobanok - 15 June, 13:30

The Kyiv Pechersk Lavra after the fire. Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

Ukraine's National Commission for UNESCO has condemned Russian strikes on a number of Ukrainian cultural institutions and the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra. The commission called on the international community to prevent Russia from participating in UNESCO's key governing bodies.

Source: a statement published by Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Telegram

Details: The commission noted that the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a cultural monument under enhanced protection in accordance with the 1954 Hague Convention and its Second Protocol.

The commission also drew attention to cultural institutions damaged in the Russian attack:

Mystetskyi Arsenal National Art and Culture Museum Complex
Palace Ukraine
Ivan Karpenko-Karyi Kyiv National University of Theatre, Cinema and Television
House of Organ and Chamber Music in the city of Dnipro
Kharkiv Art Museum
Oleksandr Dovzhenko National Film Studios

The statement reads: "We call on the international community to stop tolerating these crimes, increase political, economic and legal pressure on the aggressor state, and take decisive measures to bring Russian aggression to an end as soon as possible."

The commission also appealed to the leadership of the UNESCO Secretariat, calling for a "firm and clear response" and the use of mechanisms available through UNESCO's Executive Board, the Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, and the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.

Ukraine urged UNESCO experts to visit the damaged sites, document the consequences of the Russian strikes and provide an impartial assessment.

Background:

On the night of 14-15 June, Russia launched a strike on Kyiv, killing five people and injuring around 35 others, according to the latest reports.
The attack damaged the altar section of the Dormition Cathedral at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and the Oleksandr Dovzhenko Film Studios, where the country's largest and oldest costume collection was destroyed.
A fire also broke out at Mystetskyi Arsenal, a museum and art exhibition complex, following Russia's large-scale attack on Kyiv.

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