Ukraine at UN: Russia deliberately destroying cultural heritage throughout country

"All the cultural heritage of the entire country, both tangible and intangible, is now under attack and must be protected for all humanity," Kateryna Chuyeva, Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, said speaking at the Arria-formula meeting on the destruction of cultural heritage as a consequence of the Russian aggression against Ukraine via video link, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

As noted, out of 453 damaged or destroyed cultural sites checked by the Ministry's employees, 128 have the status of monuments, 147 are religious buildings, 33 are museums and nature reserves, 59 are cultural centers, theaters and cinemas, and 40 are libraries.

In particular, 136 buildings belonging to Christian communities were destroyed or damaged, four – belonging to Muslim communities, six – to Jewish communities.

Chuyeva recalled that some of Russia's attacks had been aimed directly at the destruction of cultural sites, in particular the Hryhoriy Skovoroda Museum in Kharkiv region and the Ivankiv Historical and Local History Museum in Kyiv region.

Damage and destruction caused by rocket attacks, bombings, and artillery fire have been recorded in 15 regions throughout the entire territory of Ukraine – from Luhansk and Donetsk regions to Lviv region.

Some museum collections, such as those in Mariupol and Melitopol, were stolen and taken away by the invaders, the deputy minister added.

The Arria-formula meeting on the destruction of cultural heritage as a consequence of the Russian aggression against Ukraine was held at the UN Security Council on July 15, organized by the Permanent Mission of Albania which presides over the UN Security Council in July, in cooperation with the delegations of Ukraine and Poland.