Russian Attack on UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Lviv Causes International Outcry

Key Points

• Lviv's historic center, designated UNESCO World Heritage in 2023, was struck in the attack
• Archives containing 12th-century birch bark manuscripts were damaged
• Over 1,700 cultural artifacts and 2,500 sites damaged since February 2022 invasion
• Ukraine is working with international partners to document war crimes and hold perpetrators accountable

Full Details

Several World Heritage sites were hit in the latest Russian attack on Lviv in western Ukraine. The city's historic center, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2023, came under attack along with critical archives. According to Anatolii Khromov, head of the institution, the archives held some of the oldest documents relating to Ukrainian history, including three 12th-century birch bark manuscripts, which are among the most significant examples of Old Russian. Ukraine's Culture Ministry announced it is documenting all crimes against the country's cultural heritage and working with international partners to hold those responsible to account. According to the Ukrainian Culture Ministry, Russia has damaged over 1,700 cultural artifacts and 2,500 sites of cultural infrastructure in Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in February 2022. Officials are calling for the complete isolation of Russia and for representatives of the Russian Federation to be barred from international cultural events.