A collage of Cathedral Square in early 20th century, and an aerial view showing the Transfiguration Cathedral severely damaged by a Russian rocket on July 23, 2023 in Odesa. (The Kyiv Independent/ Wikimedia/ Yan Dobronosov/Global Images Ukraine/Getty Images)
According to the Culture Ministry, since the beginning of the full scale invasion, Russia destroyed over 1,000 cultural sites in Ukraine. This includes those that were under the protection of UNESCO.
Moscow destroys cultural landmarks not only by missile or drone strikes. There are several historical monuments under Russian occupation. Russian occupation authorities carry out so-called renovations, changing or destroying the sites’ authentic appearance, and erasing any possible references to Ukrainian culture or Crimean Tatar.
As of October 16, UNESCO confirmed damage to 457 sites. These include 143 religious sites and 231 buildings with historical or artistic significance, 32 museums, 34 monuments, 17 library, and one archive.
Jenia Gubkina is a Ukrainian architectural historian and architect from Kharkiv. She told the Kyiv Independent that the destruction of the built environment, cultural heritage, and immovable assets was more than just the killing of children or elderly people.
Lviv Old Town
Lviv is a city located in the west of Ukraine, known for its magnificent architecture. It lies about 70 kilometers (approximately 44 miles) east from the Polish border, and has become an internal refuge for Ukrainians who have been internally displaced.
Lviv has seen a number Russian drone and missile strikes, with at least 2 of them damaging buildings in the historic area of the city and the UNESCO buffer zones.
Early in September, Russia hit Konovaltsia Street. The street is home to buildings that date back to the late 19th century and early 20th century.
The Bazylevychs, a husband and his wife, and their three daughters lived in one of the residential buildings that was hit by the Russian Kinzhal missile.
Six people were killed in the attack, including Emilia Bazylevych, six, her mother Yevhenia, 43, and two sisters Daria, 21, and Yaryna (21), both aged 18 and 21. Only their father Yaroslav survived.
Transfiguration Cathedral in Odesa
In January 2023, the historical center of Odesa, a southern city in Ukraine was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In July of that same year, a Russian rocket strike severely damaged the Transfiguration cathedral and more than 20 other architectural monuments.
According to local authorities, one person was killed and 22 others injured.
The Transfiguration Cathedral was built in Odesa in 1794. The original building was destroyed by the Soviet regime in 1936. The new cathedral, which was built in early 2000s, replaced it.
Italy and UNESCO signed a deal under which Rome allocated 500,000 Euros (about $542,000), for the restoration of Odesa’s cathedral.
Chersonesus, the ancient city of Chersonesus
Since the Russian invasion in 2014, a number of Ukrainian cultural heritage sites are in danger.
Over the years, Russia excavated large areas in the occupied Crimea. It then seized the artifacts found. It also destroyed several cultural heritage sites.
The Russians have partially destroyed the ancient Greek colony of Chersonesus. It was founded over 2,500 ago and is located within the city limits in occupied Sevastopol. The ancient city of Tauric Chersonesus was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2013.
During the Russian occupation, original sights were replaced by new buildings.
Derzhprom in Kharkiv
The latest cultural site to be attacked by Russia is Derzhprom or the State Industry House.
A 13-story iconic building in Kharkiv (Ukraine’s second largest city) was struck by a guided aerial blast on the evening of October 28. The site was initially damaged by a Russian attack on early January.
Derzhprom, completed in 1928, was one of the very first skyscrapers in Eastern Europe. It is known for its constructivist style using reinforced concrete and tempered glass.
Derzhprom, which was added to UNESCO’s preliminary list in 2017, was placed under enhanced protection by UNESCO after the full-scale Russian invasion.
“It’s the city’s trademark, so we will apply officially to UNESCO (to recover the building). Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov stated that the international department was working to start this process.
Biosphere reserve Askania – Nova
The nature reserve, founded in 1898, has been under Russian occupation ever since the beginnings of the full-scale invasion. Askania-Nova, located in the Kakhovka District of Kherson Oblast, is a member the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Program. Its area is 333.08 sq km (128.6 sq miles).
Before the war, the reserve was home to over 3,500 animal species. Askania-Nova received about 150,000 visitors a year before the war.
Ukraine is currently unable monitor the territory and care for the animals. Some of them have already been transported illegally to Russia and the Russian occupied Crimea. Viktor Shapoval, the director of the reserve, said that Russian military forces also hunt rare species.
“First, some species are kept within small enclosures that require daily care. Second, animals that love heat are moved into winter quarters. “It is obvious that these animals will die if they do not receive proper support,” Shapoval said.
Bakhchysarai Palace
The Bakhchysarai Palace, or Khan’s Palace is the only example of Crimean Tatar Palace architecture that has survived in the world. It is listed on the UNESCO Tentative World Heritage List. It was the residence of the Crimean khans (leaders of the Crimean Khanate, 1441-1783), as well as the administrative and political center of the state from the mid-16th century.
The palace at Bakhchysarai represents a unique Crimean Tatar architecture monument.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Elmira Ablialimova, former director of Bakhchysarai Historical and Cultural Reserve, told Ukrinform that Russian forces had been destroying Khan’s Palace in Bakhchysarai. She called it “repair and renovation work”.
Ablialimova stated that the monument had undergone irreversible changes and that Russians were performing repair and restoration works even when they weren’t needed.
The roof of the Khan’s Mosque has been dismantled by the Russian proxy, causing serious damage to the building, and destroying its authenticity. According to the Ukrainian Institute, the frescoed and stained glass walls were also damaged. A large crack appeared on the wall in the Secular Building at the Khan’s Palace because of violations of restoration requirements.
Since years, Russia has blocked any appeals or attempts by Ukrainian authorities or activists to allow specialists and UNESCO to participate in the restoration.
The Genoese fortress
Since 2014, the Russians have occupied the Khan’s Palace and the Genoese fortress located in occupied Sudak.
Construction of the Genoese Fortress, which is listed on the UNESCO Tentative World Heritage List, and is a part of the National Reserve “Sophia of Kyiv”, lasted approximately a century, from 1371 until 1469. The fortress is located on a 157-meter-high rock called Kyz-Kule-Burun. It was once a fossilized coral reef. The fortress is virtually unassailable due to its location.
A local media QHA reported that in November 2015, part of an ancient tower of a Genoese fortress fell, citing a source unknown to them, close to the committee responsible for protecting the cultural heritage of Russian-occupied Crimea.
The Russian occupation authorities are said to have destroyed the site because they were building toilets and hotels on the site.
Nelia Kukovalska told Crimea.Realities in May 2019, a project of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that the Genoese Fortress was also at risk from landslides.
Kukovalska stated that “since the annexation, illegal and unprofessional works have been carried out on the site and no one is monitoring landslide situations… We observe a rise in seismic activity and there is a risk.”
Read More @ kyivindependent.com