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Five additional Ukrainian cultural sites granted Enhanced Protection in the Event of Armed Conflict
The International List of Cultural Property under Enhanced Protection reinforces the protection of inscribed property through greater legal immunity, which aims to prevent such properties from being the object of attack or being used in support of military actions. The cultural sites in Ukraine were provisionally granted the status of enhanced protection on an emergency basis, following decisions by the Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, which met at UNESCO on 14 December 2023.
The newly inscribed sites are the Drohobych Tserkva of St. Yura (St. George), National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater, Odesa Regional Philharmonic named after David Oistrakh, the Savior Cathedral of Chernihiv, and Uzhok Church of St. Michael the Archangel.
The new inscriptions join the 20 Ukrainian sites already inscribed on a provisional basis by the Committee at its Third extraordinary meeting on 7 September 2023. To date, 25 Ukrainian sites benefit from full and effective protection established under the UNESCO for the Protection of Cultural Property and its Second Protocol.
In 2023, the number of sites on the List has grown from 18 to 55, highlighting its relevance, both in times of peace and in the event of armed conflict or in situations of occupation.
