UKRAINE, 110 broken non secular websites inspected and documented by UNESCO – As of 17 Could 2023, UNESCO has verified harm to 256 websites since 24 February 2022 – 110 non secular websites, 22 museums, 92 buildings of historic and/or creative curiosity, 19 monuments, 12 libraries, 1 Archive.
Report of the Ukrainian Institute for Non secular Freedom (January 2023)
Because of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, a minimum of 494 non secular buildings, theological establishments, and sacred locations have been wholly destroyed, broken, or looted by the Russian army, in accordance with the Ukrainian Institute for Non secular Freedom (IRF).
IRF introduced this final up to date knowledge on the impression of the battle on Ukrainian non secular communities on January 31 and February 1 through the Summit on Worldwide Non secular Freedom (IRF Summit 2023) held in Washington, D.C.
Most church buildings, mosques, and synagogues have been destroyed in Donetsk area (a minimum of 120) and Luhansk area (greater than 70). The dimensions of destruction can also be huge in Kyiv area (70), the place determined battles have been fought in protection of the capital, and in Kharkiv area – greater than 50 destroyed non secular buildings. Russian air raids, together with these utilizing Iranian drones, have affected virtually all areas of Ukraine and proceed to today.
Church buildings of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (affiliated with the Moscow Patriarchate) suffered essentially the most from Russian aggression – a minimum of 143 have been destroyed.
The dimensions of destruction of evangelical church prayer homes is immense – a minimum of 170 in complete, of which most affected have been Evangelical Christian church buildings – 75, Evangelical Baptist Christian prayer homes – 49, and Seventh-day Adventist church buildings – 24.
The up to date IRF knowledge additionally comprises info on the destruction of the Kingdom Halls of Jehovah’s Witnesses – a complete of 94 non secular buildings, of which seven have been totally destroyed, 17 have been severely broken, and 70 have been insignificantly broken.
UNESCO’s coverage
UNESCO is conducting a preliminary harm evaluation for cultural properties* by cross-checking the reported incidents with a number of credible sources. These revealed knowledge that are recurrently up to date don’t commit the Group. UNESCO can also be creating, with its accomplice organizations, a mechanism for unbiased coordinated evaluation of information in Ukraine, together with satellite tv for pc picture evaluation, in keeping with provisions of the 1954 Hague Conference for the Safety of Cultural Property within the Occasion of Armed Battle.
*The time period “cultural property” refers to immovable cultural property as outlined below Article 1 of the 1954 Hague Conference, no matter its origin, possession or standing of registration within the nationwide stock, and services and monuments devoted to tradition, together with memorials.
The Group is involved with Ukrainian authorities to mark cultural websites and monuments with the distinctive “Blue Defend” emblem of the 1954 Hague Conference for the Safety of Cultural Property within the Occasion of Armed Battle to keep away from deliberate or unintentional damages.
Properties inscribed on World Heritage checklist, corresponding to the positioning of “Kyiv: Saint-Sophia Cathedral and Associated Monastic Buildings, Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra”, are thought-about a precedence.
Remark of Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-Normal
The primary problem is to mark cultural heritage websites and monuments and recall their particular standing as protected areas below worldwide regulation.
So far, no UNESCO World Heritage web site seems to have been broken.
UNESCO additionally assisted the Ukrainian authorities in marking cultural websites with the distinctive blue defend emblem. This image signifies that the property is protected below the 1954 Hague Conference. Due to this fact, any infringement is taken into account a violation of worldwide regulation and could be prosecuted. It must also be famous that not one of the seven UNESCO World Heritage websites have been affected thus far.
Laying the foundations for future reconstruction – broken non secular websites
By recording and documenting the harm and destruction of cultural websites, UNESCO not solely warns of the seriousness of the scenario, but additionally prepares for future reconstruction. Though it’s nonetheless too early to begin work, the UN group has already created a fund devoted to actions in assist of Ukraine and has launched an enchantment for contributions to its Member States for a speedy response.
Listing of broken non secular and cultural websites per area as of 17 Could 2023 (See the main points of the checklist beneath HERE)
Donetsk Area: 71 broken websites
Kharkiv Area: 55 broken websites
Kyiv Area: 38 broken websites
Luhansk Area: 32 broken websites
Chernihiv Area: 17 broken websites
Sumy Area: 12 broken websites
Zaporizhia Area: 11 broken websites
Mykolaiv Area: 7 broken websites
Kherson Area: 4 broken websites
Zhytomyr Area: 3 broken websites
Vinnytsia Ragion: 2 broken websites
Dnipropetrovk Area: 1 broken web site
Odesa Area: 1 broken web site
Earlier assessments and a few UNESCO declarations
On 23 June 2022, in accordance with the checks carried out by UNESCO’s specialists, 152 cultural websites had been partially or completely destroyed on account of the preventing, together with 70 non secular buildings, 30 historic buildings, 18 cultural centres, 15 monuments, 12 museums and 7 libraries.
Remark of Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-Normal
“These repeated assaults on Ukrainian cultural websites should cease. Cultural heritage, in all its varieties, shouldn’t be focused below any circumstances. I reiterate my name for the respect of worldwide humanitarian regulation, particularly the Hague Conference for the Safety of Cultural Property within the Occasion of Armed Battle.”
On 8 March 2022, UNESCO revealed an announcement saying it was in everlasting contact with all related establishments, in addition to with Ukrainian cultural professionals, to evaluate the scenario and to bolster the safety of cultural properties.
UNESCO supplied technical recommendation to cultural professionals within the area to guard buildings. Stock works and shelters have been recognized to safe objects that could possibly be moved, and fire-fighting measures have been strengthened.
Remark of Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-Normal
We should safeguard the cultural heritage in Ukraine, as a sworn statement of the previous but additionally as a catalyst for peace and cohesion for the long run, which the worldwide group has an obligation to guard and protect.
