The Russian attacks on the Ukrainian old town of Odessa, which is classified as a World Heritage Site, have sparked fierce criticism. According to information from UNESCO, several museums were damaged. According to a statement by the UN Organization for Culture, Science and Education in Paris, the Archaeological Museum, the Naval Museum and the Literature Museum are said to be particularly affected.
The international organization strongly condemned the attacks and warned of the growing threat of war to Ukrainian culture. According to Unesco, damage has been detected at 270 Ukrainian cultural sites since the Russian invasion began on February 24, 2022.
Attack on society, democracy and culture
The targeted attacks by Russia on the museums in Odessa would show once again that this war was an attack on all areas of Ukrainian society and democracy, including and especially on its independent culture, criticized the German Minister of State for Culture, Claudia Roth.
According to the Greens politician, by bombing the World Heritage Old Town, Russia is also directly attacking a significant part of humanity’s cultural heritage. “This criminal violence against the people of Ukraine and their cultural assets must come to an end and be stopped immediately by Russia. The federal government remains firmly on the side of the people of Ukraine and their culture.”
The historic center of Odessa was included in the Unesco List of World Heritage in Danger in January 2023 as a result of the Russian war. In the past few days, the city on the Black Sea coast has been hit by rockets several times.
