IHBC past vice chair and lead on the Ukraine working Group (WG) Kathy Davies has highlighted the heritage concerns raised in UNESCO’s update of its preliminary damage assessment for cultural properties following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
image: for illustration only
… IHBC is considering how members might be of assistance…
Kathy Davies said: ‘In addition to the appalling loss of life, Ukrainians are suffering the senseless destruction of their social and cultural heritage, the fabric of which forms the basis of their daily lives. As and when this terrible war ends, they will need help on every front to recreate something of that which they’ve lost.’
‘It will be extraordinarily difficult to capture the intangible spirit and the memories which are encapsulated in their much destroyed built heritage. Heritage organisations throughout Europe and beyond are all too aware of this and ready to offer help as and when appropriate.’
‘The IHBC is considering how members might be of assistance and all suggestions are welcome. Nothing, of course can be done until peace is restored, other than the recording of buildings, which is being done by Ukrainians and publicised in this list.
Please do get in touch with me, through the IHBC in the first instance, if you would like to offer support, suggestions or thoughts on this tragic situation’.
UNESCO writes:
As of 26 April 2023, UNESCO has verified damage to 253 sites since 24 February 2022 – 108 religious sites, 22 museums, 91 buildings of historical and/or artistic interest, 19 monuments, 12 libraries ,1 Archive..
UNESCO is conducting a preliminary damage assessment for cultural properties* by cross-checking the reported incidents with multiple credible sources. These published data which will be regularly updated do not commit the Organization. UNESCO is also developing, with its partner organizations, a mechanism for independent coordinated assessment of data in Ukraine, including satellite image analysis, in line with provisions of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict…
To date, no UNESCO World Heritage site appears to have been damaged.
See the list at
