The war in Ukraine has led to a range of damages to people, infrastructure and the rich Ukrainian cultural heritage. The situation related to the status of cultural heritage is monitored by UNESCO, with Ukraine becoming a party to the World Heritage Convention on October 12, 1988.

As of 2023, there are eight sites inscribed on the World Heritage List, along with sixteen nominations for new inscriptions. The first site is the Cathedral of St. Sophia and related monastic buildings with the Kyjevo-Pečers’ka Lavra in Kyiv, and was inscribed on the list in 1990 during the fourteenth session of the World Heritage Committee. The other sites were added in 1998, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2013 and 2023. Seven sites are considered cultural, according to the selection criteria, and one is natural; three are part of transnational sites. One site, the Historic Center of Odesa, was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger at the same time as it was inscribed on the World Heritage List by the 18th Special Session of the World Heritage Committee under an emergency procedure on January 25, 2023, due to the threat brought about by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

From the beginning of the conflict, UNESCO experts advised Ukrainian cultural workers on how to safeguard buildings, upgrade firefighting equipment, and locate secure shelters for moveable items of art. Additionally, the Organization has provided electric generators, protective material for the façade of cultural structures, and outdoor artwork like sculptures. The Blue Shield logo from the 1954 Convention, which signifies that certain properties are under the protection of international law and that attacking them may result in punishment, is used by the authorities to mark cultural sites with the help of UNESCO. Additionally, the organization performed urgent maintenance services for cultural sites in Kharkiv, Kyiv, and Odesa.

UNESCO began a preliminary evaluation of the harm done to Ukrainian cultural property as soon as the war started. To undertake this analysis, information on damage was gathered, cross-referenced and studied from several trustworthy sources. With the help of UNITAR/UNOSAT, UNESCO decided in May 2022 to systematically use satellite pictures to further develop this method. When they are inaccessible by land, these photos enable the precise condition of cultural assets to be verified. A specialized web platform was developed by UNESCO to list and geo-reference all of these evaluations. In situ, damage assessments are used to support these efforts.

On August 1st, 2023, UNESCO confirmed that 274 heritage sites in Ukraine have been damaged since the start of the Russian invasion on Feb. 24, 2022. According to the count by the U.N. body for Science, Education and Culture, these are “117 religious buildings, 27 museums, 98 historic and/or artistic buildings, 19 monuments, 12 libraries and one archive” of cultural interest.

In the years to come, Ukraine’s partners such as the EU have pledged to support  the country in rebuilding its monuments, museums, churches and other heritage sites. These actions aimed at restoring Ukraine’s history and culture will be pivotal to rebuilding peace as well. UNESCO and its partners will be essential actors in these efforts.