Ukraine: Kyiv and Lviv embody humanity’s “endangered” heritage

Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kiev and monastic buildings in the Ukrainian capital are part of the world heritage, as is the historic center of Lviv due to the Russian invasion, UNESCO announced on Friday.

“Kiev and Lviv sites have been added to the List of World Heritage in Danger,” UNESCO confirmed, following a vote by the World Heritage Committee in Riyadh, following recommendations by UN experts. UNESCO announced its intention to include the sites in early September, explaining that they are “under threat of extinction”.

According to UNESCO, Saint Sophia Cathedral, located in the historical center of Kyiv, is “one of the most important monuments representing the architecture and monumental art of the beginning of the 11th century” in Ukraine. The historical center of Lviv, a city founded in the Middle Ages, was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1996.

“Additional Financial Assistance”

The group considers that “optimal conditions are no longer met” to guarantee their safety due to the conflict. “These sites are also vulnerable to the shock waves generated by the blasts in the two cities, as they face the risk of direct attacks.” This registration also opens the right to additional financial and technical assistance to implement new emergency measures at the site,” the organization added.

On the January 2023 list, Kyiv and Lviv join the historic center of Odessa, many of whose buildings were affected at the end of July. Transfiguration Cathedral in Odessa was damaged by Russian bombing in July, which UNESCO condemned.

(AFP)Show comments