UNESCO has condemned the Russian attack on the city of Odesa in Ukraine, which led to the destruction of heritage sites, in “the strongest terms”.
Audrey Azoulay (Director-General, UNESCO) gave a detailed statement saying: “This outrageous destruction marks an escalation of violence against the cultural heritage of Ukraine. I strongly condemn this attack against culture, and I urge the Russian Federation to take meaningful action to comply with its obligations under international law, including the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and the 1972 World Heritage Convention.” Azoulay also added that UNESCO was preparing a team to assess the full extent of the damage on the ground in Odesa.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine broke out last year, multiple sites of historical significance in Ukraine have been targeted. Odesa was first targeted in July 2022 when an aerial attack damaged the Odesa Museum of Modern Art and the Odesa Museum of Fine Arts. The latter had already shipped its entire collection for safekeeping before the war broke out. UNESCO had announced to fund the complete repair of the two sites. Earlier this year, UNESCO also declared the site an endangered World Heritage Site.
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For the larger world, Odesa is most prominently known for the “Odesa Steps”, featured heavily in the film Battleship Potemkin. Last weekend, Russian forces again targeted the city, destroying part of the famed Transfiguration Cathedral. After the attacks, a video went viral that showed the aftermath and Ukranian citizens picking up the rubble. UNESCO’s statement came shortly after this.
