Russian strike on Odessa damages 19 buildings in UNESCO protection zone

As a result of Russian shelling on January 31, 19 buildings in the UNESCO zone were damaged in the historical center of Odessa.

Among the damaged buildings are the Bristol Hotel, the Museum of Western and Eastern Art, the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of History and Local Lore, and the Museum of Foreign Writers.

The building of the Odessa Regional Philharmonic named after David Oistrakh, built in 1894 and protected by UNESCO, was also damaged as a result of the shelling. Windows were broken and facades were damaged.

Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications Mykola Tochytskyi reported that the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications has already appealed to UNESCO with a request to take measures in accordance with the Hague Convention to protect cultural heritage sites under the protection of the organization, as well as to develop a sanction mechanism against those who harm the cultural values ​​of Ukraine.

“Representatives of the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications, specialists from the Department of Culture of the Odessa Administration and other experts are already working at the scene in Odessa to promptly assess the consequences caused by the missile attack,” the minister noted.

Tochytsky also noted that as of January 25, 1,333 monuments had been damaged in Ukraine. In the Odessa region, their number is 137 cultural heritage sites, and some of them have been irretrievably lost.

The minister emphasized that Russia must bear real international legal responsibility for the crimes committed. Therefore, together with its allies, it is necessary to carry out comprehensive work to improve the mechanisms for holding Russia accountable for the destruction of cultural heritage.