Ukraine considers it unacceptable to continue Russia's presence in UNESCO. We expect that the Ukrainian side will shortly receive an answer and a decision on this issue. Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine Oleksandr Tkachenko appealed to UNESCO to deprive Russia of UNESCO membership and change the host country of the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee.

Russia's armed attack on Ukraine is currently destroying many civilian and cultural heritage sites in Ukraine. Countless historical and architectural monuments and archeological sites are under threat of artillery shelling and uncontrolled movement of heavy military trucks.

Since 2014, the Russian Federation has been systematically violating international humanitarian law and international conventions on the protection of cultural heritage, in particular in Crimea. Its actions have already damaged the ancient World Heritage-listed city of Tavria Chersonesos, the Bakhchisaray Palace of the Crimean Khans, which is on the tentative list, and other cultural heritage sites.

With regard to this, Ukraine considers continuation of Russia's presence in UNESCO as inadmissible. We expect that the Ukrainian side will receive an answer and a decision on this issue as soon as possible.