UNESCO is particularly concerned about the seven world heritage sites located in Ukraine, Luchsheiter told DW. For example, the St. Sophia Cathedral in Kiev, the historical center of the city of Lviv or the ancient city of Kherson and its Chora, which is located in the southwest of the Crimean peninsula on the Black Sea.
Luchsheiter believes that the diversity of Ukrainian cultural heritage is at risk. "Among other things, Kiev has a collection of Jewish folk songs from the early 20th century that is globally significant," he says, another UNESCO World Heritage site.
Cultural treasures are protected by international law
But there are other important cultural treasures in Ukraine, Ukrainian historian and art curator Konstantin Akinsha points out in an interview with DW. Among others, the already destroyed city of Hernihiv, with its monuments from the 10th, 11th and 12th centuries. Kharkiv is also the capital of Ukrainian and Soviet constructivism. Experts fear that Kharkiv has suffered more serious damage today than in World War II. In addition, the famous golden treasure of the Scythians, one of the greatest cultural treasures of antiquity, is in the Museum of Antiquities in Kiev.
Cultural property is protected by international law, Luchsheiter stresses. Russia is also a member of the Hague Convention to protect them however UNESCO is unable to prevent their destruction.
Museums in the West are now trying to help their Ukrainian counterparts. Cultural goods are transported to Lviv from Kharkiv, Kiev or Odessa and then further west, for example to Poland and also Germany in Dresden. The museums are de facto at war, says Ukrainian historian and art curator Konstantin Akinsha. "But unfortunately the Ukrainian government was late in thinking about their evacuation," he adds."
The Russians are silent
Cultural assets in Ukraine belong to the cultural heritage of all humanity, he says, stressing that "the Russian army and Russian planes are bombing us, firing rockets at historical monuments that do not belong only to Ukraine."
The Russians are silent[/P]Cultural assets in Ukraine belong to the cultural heritage of all humanity, he says, stressing that "the Russian army and Russian planes are bombing us, firing rockets at historical monuments that do not belong only to Ukraine. The situation is currently unpredictable and experts cannot be sent to the area to assess or check the damage."
But what shocks him is the "absolute silence of Russian colleagues," he says. The art critic says he cannot understand how it is possible for Russian museums to remain in the International Council of Museums. "Last night, for some reason, I looked again at the photos of destroyed Ukraine during World War II. We are reliving a history that we thought had already been buried forever in the archives. This is a disaster of unprecedented proportions," he concludes.
Source:DW
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