During a massive attack on Ukraine from March 23 to 24, described by the US-based Institute for the Study of War as "the largest Russian strike series against Ukraine of the war thus far," several UNESCO World Heritage sites in Lviv were damaged. The strikes resulted in several fatalities and over 40 injuries. Lviv Regional Governor Maksym Kozytskyi reported that a drone strike hit St. Andrew's Church, part of a former 17th-century Bernardine monastery, and destroyed several buildings.

While the church's windows were shattered, the most significant stained-glass window depicting the Madonna with Child was spared. The adjacent Central State Historical Archives building also sustained damage. Archive Director Anatolii Khromov stated that the archives hold some of Ukraine's oldest historical documents, including three 12th-century birch bark manuscripts. Khromov said, "The archive building is dilapidated, and any explosion, such as the one on March 24, poses a risk to the collection. We are currently inspecting the building for new cracks."

Russian officials and pro-government media outlets have attempted to justify the attack by claiming that "foreign mercenaries" were allegedly hiding in the archive building, allegations Khromov vehemently denied. He noted that staff are working around the clock to digitize historical documents for protection. The strike also damaged a 19th-century building, a former prison that now houses the National Museum-Memorial of Victims of the Occupation Regime.

Ukraine's Culture Ministry announced it is documenting all crimes against the country's cultural heritage and working with international partners to hold perpetrators accountable. Minister of Culture Tetyana Berezhna stated, "Cultural heritage must not be targeted. Our team is preparing a report for UNESCO on the damage to a World Heritage site." According to the ministry, since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, Russia has damaged over 1,700 cultural artifacts and 2,500 "sites of cultural infrastructure" in Ukraine, with 513 completely destroyed.

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry declared that UNESCO experts will travel to Lviv to document the damage. Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said that Ukraine's international partners have condemned the attack, but Ukraine demands "concrete action, such as sanctions against Russia in the cultural sector, with the goal of completely isolating Russia." The Ukrainian Institute of National Memory called for Russia's expulsion from UNESCO, launching a petition and appealing to the international community for support.

Source: www.dw.com