On the Ukrainian side, it is stated that UNESCO has estimated the damage caused by Russia to the country’s cultural heritage at USD 2.5 billion.
The total damage to Ukraine’s cultural heritage from the war unleashed by Russia is at least $2.5 billion, but the figure could reach $7 billion in the next 10 years. Chiara Dezzi Bardeschi, head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Office (UNESCO) in Ukraine, made the announcement at a briefing in Kiev on August 10.
At the end of July, for example, the Russians shelled Odessa several times, eg the temple and monuments in the historic center of the city.
War between Russia and Ukraine – Damage to cultural heritage
Bardeschi presented the data that summarizes her stay in Odessa after she was fired upon by Russian troops on July 20 and 23. According to the speaker, a comprehensive technical assessment of the damage to cultural and religious sites has been carried out in the city. This included an inventory and documentation of individual buildings, an assessment of their structural value and a visual assessment of their durability to determine the extent of their damage.
The president of the UNESCO bureau stated that the organization has mobilized the world’s public opinion to finance the first restoration works in Odessa through the emergency fund. In addition, a UNESCO document on the damage to this city can be used in international courts. “This has already happened in the past, for example in the case of cultural heritage damage in Timbuktu, Mali in 2013. UNESCO’s documentation was used by the International Criminal Court in its investigation” – recalled Ch. Dezzi Bardeschi.
In early August, the United Nations said that between the start of a full-scale war by Russia in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and July 26, the invaders destroyed 274 spiritual and cultural objects in this country. Almost half of these – 117 – were religious buildings and the damage list also included 27 museums, 98 buildings of historical and/or cultural value, 19 monuments, 12 libraries and 1 archive.
Source: Do Rzeczy
Roy Brown is a renowned economist and author at The Nation View. He has a deep understanding of the global economy and its intricacies. He writes about a wide range of economic topics, including monetary policy, fiscal policy, international trade, and labor markets.
