**Russia Erasing Ukrainian Identity**
Russian forces are destroying Ukraine‘s cultural heritage, says Olena Kovalska, the Deputy Head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office. They aim to erase Ukrainian identity by targeting not just buildings but also stealing cultural assets.
**Damage and Destruction**
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion started, over 2,100 cultural facilities have been damaged or destroyed. This includes 750 libraries, 120 museums, 38 theaters, and more than 1,179 cultural heritage objects. Russian forces have also destroyed over 200 million Ukrainian books.
**UNESCO Estimates Losses**
The loss to Ukraine’s cultural and tourism sectors is estimated at $3.5 billion by UNESCO. Russians are not only destroying but also looting Ukrainian cultural institutions. Stolen artifacts are being sold abroad as “Russian works.”
**Preserving Heritage**
Kovalska stressed the importance of preserving Ukraine’s intellectual heritage. She said that protecting what remains and ensuring patent attorneys have assets to register and defend is crucial.
**Next Steps**
Harmonizing Ukrainian legislation with European standards is also a priority for Kovalska. This will help strengthen intellectual property protection in Ukraine. Preserving Ukrainian culture and sharing its heritage with the world is equally important, she added.
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