Over a thousand cultural monuments were destroyed or damaged as a result of shelling

Russian aggression against Ukraine continues to have devastating consequences not only for civilian infrastructure, but also for the cultural heritage of our state. According to the latest data from the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy, the number of cultural heritage monuments damaged as a result of hostilities has exceeded 1,200 objects.

The monuments in Kharkiv, Kherson, Donetsk and Odessa regions suffered the most. In addition, due to constant shelling and occupation, the exact number of damaged objects in the temporarily occupied territories of Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Luhansk and Kherson regions remains unknown.

Among the damaged objects are churches, museums, theaters, historical buildings, monuments and other cultural values. Russian troops are deliberately destroying Ukrainian history and culture, trying to erase the national identity of Ukrainians.

In addition to the destruction of tangible cultural heritage, the war took the lives of many cultural figures and media workers. According to the Ministry of Culture, 135 cultural figures and 93 media workers died.

The destruction of cultural heritage is not only a loss of material values, but also a blow to the identity of the Ukrainian people. The restoration of destroyed monuments is a long and complex process that will require significant investment and effort.

This crime against culture will not go unpunished. Ukraine will definitely rebuild all destroyed monuments and return its cultural heritage.