UNESCO plans to increase assistance to save Ukrainian cultural heritage

That's according to the press service of the MCIP following a meeting of UNESCO representatives in Kyiv Chiara Bardeschi and Yuliia Fediv with the Interagency Coordination Center for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage and Cultural Property in the Territories Affected by the Destruction of the Kakhovka HPP, Ukrinform reports.

"We are grateful to UNESCO and all partners for their active participation in saving the cultural heritage of Ukraine. Although we have difficulties with access to the territories affected by the destruction of the Kakhovka HPP by the Russians due to the security situation and temporary occupation, we must all use all opportunities to save Ukrainian cultural property. At the same time, the value of human life should remain the main priority," said Minister of Culture and Information Policy Oleksandr Tkachenko, who chaired the meeting.

UNESCO representatives noted that the organization should increase assistance to save Ukrainian cultural heritage given the scale of the tragedy.

In particular, in 2023-2024, it is expected to continue monitoring and identifying the affected sites based on satellite images of the HPP, assessing and documenting damage, assessing damage on site, draining and cleaning, stabilizing and conserving cultural heritage sites, including archaeological finds, conducting archaeological excavations and creating conditions for storing finds, and taking measures to prevent the looting of sites and illicit trafficking in cultural property.

Deputy Minister Kateryna Chueva added that the issues of cultural heritage preservation require a thorough discussion in the context of the possible restoration of the hydroelectric power plant, because " it is about hundreds of monuments that were already known at the time of the flooding, and newly discovered objects will be added to them."

As reported, the Coordination Center was established by the Cabinet of Ministers to coordinate actions to protect cultural heritage and cultural property in the territories affected by the explosion of the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam, as well as to develop an action plan aimed at strengthening the protection of cultural heritage in the affected areas.

On the night of June 6, the occupiers blew up the Kakhovka HPP. As a result of the dam explosion, the following were damaged: the complex of buildings of the Kakhovka HPP which was built in 1951-1958, the ensemble of buildings of the Central Square in Nova Kakhovka, and the buildings of the historical center of Nova Kakhovka. Cultural centers in Nova Kakhovka, Korsunka and Dnipryany villages were also flooded.