Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said he spoke with UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany after Russia’s latest massive attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities damaged some of the country’s most important cultural institutions.
In a post on X, Sybiha said Russia launched more than 1,250 attack drones and 163 missiles in just two recent waves of strikes.
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He said the attacks damaged the National Chornobyl Museum, the National Opera, the National Art Museum and many other cultural sites. Several damaged objects are located within the buffer zone of a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Russia accused of targeting Ukraine’s identity
Sybiha said it was “particularly cynical” that Russia, a member of UNESCO, continues to target cultural heritage while showing “total disregard” for the organization’s core principles and objectives.
“Russia’s war targets our people and cities, but also culture, education, and everything that shapes Ukraine’s identity and historical memory,” Sybiha wrote.
Sybiha urged UNESCO to deliver a stronger response, saying the scale and systematic nature of Russia’s destruction of Ukrainian cultural heritage demands action.
Ukraine considers special UNESCO session
Sybiha stressed the need for UNESCO to take all necessary measures to hold Russia accountable for attacks on Ukraine’s cultural heritage.
According to the foreign minister, Ukraine is considering further steps within UNESCO, including consultations on convening a special session of the organization’s Executive Board dedicated to the consequences of Russia’s aggression.
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UN Security Council to Hold Emergency Session on Ukraine After Massive Russian Attack
The UN Security Council will hold an emergency session on Ukraine on Monday, at Kyiv’s request following Russia’s latest large-scale aerial attack. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Moscow continues to choose escalation over peace and called for sustained international pressure on Russia.
He also invited El-Enany to visit Ukraine and see the consequences of Russian attacks firsthand.
The appeal comes as Kyiv continues to call for stronger international accountability over Russia’s strikes on civilian infrastructure, cultural institutions, schools and historical sites.