UNESCO Condemns Russian Attack on Odesa‘s Historic Center
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has strongly condemned Russia’s overnight strikes on the historic center of Odesa. The attack occurred on November 15 and caused significant damage to numerous architectural monuments.
A 35-year-old man was killed in the strike, and 10 people were injured, with eight of them hospitalized. UNESCO has expressed its support for the victims, the population, and local authorities.
UNESCO is also calling for an end to all attacks on cultural property protected under international law. The historical center of Odesa was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in January 2023.
Russian Attacks on Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Sites
Since the beginning of the war, Russia has destroyed over 1,000 cultural heritage sites in Ukraine, including those under UNESCO protection. This includes the damage to more than 20 architectural monuments in the historical center of Odesa and the heavy damage to the Transfiguration Cathedral.
UNESCO Mission to Odesa
A UNESCO mission led by Chiara Dezzi Bardeschi, head of the UNESCO Office in Ukraine, arrived on November 16 to inspect the recently damaged cultural heritage sites. The organization has not yet provided the results of the assessments.
UNESCO Condemns Russian Actions
“Once again, UNESCO is calling for an end to all attacks on cultural property protected under widely ratified international standard-setting instruments,” reads the statement published on November 18.
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