C T Online Desk: Major historical sites in two Ukrainian cities are in danger of destruction due to the ongoing war with Russia, according to the United Nations’ heritage body Unesco.
They include the iconic Saint Sophia Cathedral in the capital, Kyiv, and the medieval buildings of the city’s Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra monastery site.
The historic centre in the western city of Lviv has also been placed on Unesco’s List of World Heritage in Danger.
In a statement, the group said its World Heritage Committee had concluded that “optimal conditions are no longer met to fully guarantee the protection of the Outstanding Universal Value of the property and that it is threatened by potential danger due to the war”.
“Faced with the risk of direct attack, these sites are also vulnerable to the shockwaves caused by the bombing of the two cities.”
They added that the sites’ inclusion on the list was a reminder to UN member states about their responsibility to contribute to the protection of the sites and would also “open the door” to further financial and technical aid.
There have been no strikes on the Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv. Russia has assured the UN that its armed forces are taking “necessary precautions” to prevent damage, though this is disputed by Ukraine.
The latest additions to the danger list come after the Ukrainian port city of Odesa was added in January – nearly a year after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Odesa has come under heavy bombardment by Russia in recent months following the collapse of a deal allowing Ukraine to export its grain to the world through the Black Sea.
