According to a new count by UNESCO, 152 cultural sites in Ukraine have been partially or completely destroyed since the beginning of the war on 24 February. This includes 70 religious buildings, 30 historical buildings, 18 cultural centres, 15 monuments, 12 museums and 7 libraries.

The majority of the damaged sites are in three regions. In the Donetsk region, where the fighting is still particularly intense, 45 cultural sites have been damaged. The Kharkiv region has seen 40 damaged sites and in the Kyiv region 26 sites. None of the 7 UNESCO World Heritage sites have been affected to date.

“These repeated attacks on Ukrainian cultural sites must stop. Cultural heritage, in all its forms, should not be targeted under any circumstances,” said UNESCO’s director general Audrey Azoulay.

So what can be done about all the damage?

UNESCO’s director general has implemented a series of emergency measures to help prevent as much destruction as possible. The organisation has provided technical advice to cultural professionals to protect buildings and inventory works, shelters were identified to secure objects that could be moved, and fire-fighting measures were also reinforced. In addition, they have assisted Ukrainian authorities in marking cultural sites with a distinctive blue shield emblem. This indicates that the property is protected under the 1954 Hague Convention.

While ‘cultural property’ is protected under international law by the 1954 Hague Convention, Russia has been accused of numerous war crimes since the war began and it is unclear if or when they will face any consequences.

Documenting and recording the destruction of cultural sites in Ukraine not only warns of the seriousness of the situation, but also helps prepare for future reconstruction. Though it is too soon for work to start, a fund has been created dedicated to actions in support of Ukraine.