UNESCO Gravely Concerned Russian Missiles are Destroying Ukraine’s Cultural Sites

UNESCO has been frantically working as quickly as possible, to mark Ukraine’s historic sites and monuments by using the emblem of the 1954 Hague Convention. However, as Russia’s assault intensified without recognizing any boundaries set by previous treaties, this UN cultural organization is calling on museum directors across Ukraine to safeguard all museum collections and other cultural properties.

Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO’s Director-General said in a statement they are gravely concerned” about damages wrought by Russia’s invasions, particularly in the cities of Chernihiv and Kharkiv. The UNESCO is calling for the protection of Ukraine’s cultural heritage, being testimonies of the past. He added that the international community has a duty to preserve and protect them because they are vectors of peace for the future generations.

Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine used to be the capital of the Soviet Ukraine up to to 1934 and has been home to important architectural structures including the Derzhprom building, which is the first Soviey skyscraper.

Russian Missile Attacks Destroying Protected World Heritage Sites and Other Cultural Buildings

The UNESCO has been monitoring damages to cultural sites by analyzing satellite imagery. As Uktainians continue to put up a brave resistance against the Russian invasion, a Russian missile struck a government building last March 01. According to BBC, the bombing also damaged a concert hall and the opera house on the other side of the buuilding.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the bombing an act of terror against Ukraine considering that there were no military installation in the area. The missile attack in March 01, also damaged the Babyn Yar Holocaust, a memorial in Kyiv built as a reminder that the site had witnessed one of the largest Jewish mass shootings during World War II. According to BBC, the March 01 missile attacks that targeted a TV tower resulted in the killinf of five civilians.

In March 02, shelling destroyed the stained glass windows and the decorative features of the Assumption Cathedral, a Russian Orthodox church located in the centre of Kharkiv. Recent reports and camera footages show that missiles have been targeting evacuating civilians, killing several including children and volunteer workers.