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Unesco says it’s deeply dismayed over an attack carried out by the Russian forces, which hit several cultural sites in the city centre of Odesa, while President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pledged retaliation for the act
Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 24 Jul 2023
Russian airstrikes have damaged the historic Transfiguration Cathedral in Odesa Credit: PA
Unesco has condemned an attack on several cultural sites in the historic centre of Odesa, with Russian forces keeping up a barrage that has damaged critical infrastructure in southern Ukraine in the past week.
Joining condemnation from Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russian airstrikes damaged the historic Transfiguration Cathedral in Odesa early Sunday, prompting Kyiv to pledge retaliation for the damage to the World Heritage Site.
“The target of all these missiles is not just cities, villages or people. Their target is humanity and the foundations of our entire European culture,” said Zelenskyy.
“A Russian missile - it was an X-22, an anti-ship missile - hit the altar of the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral in Odesa, one of the most valuable cathedrals in Ukraine.”
Additionally, a preliminary assessment in Odesa has revealed damage to several museums inside the World Heritage property, including the Odesa Archaeological Museum, the Odesa Maritime Museum and the Odesa Literature Museum. All three museums had been marked by Unesco and local authorities with the Blue Shield, the distinctive emblem of the 1954 Hague Convention.
“This outrageous destruction marks an escalation of violence against cultural heritage of Ukraine,” said Audrey Azoulay, Unesco director-general.
“I strongly condemn this attack against culture, and I urge the Russian Federation to take meaningful action to comply with its obligations under international law, including the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and the 1972 World Heritage Convention.”
Unesco says that it will continue to engage with the World Heritage site managers, local and national authorities to identify urgent needs for assistance. Intentional destruction of cultural sites may amount to a war crime, as acknowledged also by the United Nations Security Council - of which the Russian Federation is a permanent member.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine represents an ever-increasing threat to Ukrainian culture. To date, Unesco has verified damage to more than 270 cultural sites in the country since 24 February 2022.
Heritage
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