As a result of Russian aggression, 2,161 cultural heritage sites and 2,665 cultural institutions in Ukraine had been damaged as of the end of September 2026, according to the Ministry of Culture.
During September, the number of damaged cultural heritage sites increased by 26, while the number of affected cultural institutions rose by 25.
The damaged cultural heritage sites include 194 monuments of national significance, 1,769 of local significance and 198 newly identified heritage sites.
The largest numbers were recorded in the Donetsk region, with 369 sites, followed by the Kharkiv region with 355, the Kherson region with 305, Kyiv with 285 and the Odessa region with 212.
In September, Russian attacks caused further damage to cultural heritage sites in the Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Sumy and Kherson regions, as well as in Kyiv. In the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, Russian strikes caused additional damage to sites that had already been affected.
The Ministry of Culture stressed that UNESCO World Heritage sites and their buffer zones require particular attention. In September, the Consistory building, part of the Saint Sophia Cathedral complex, was damaged, along with sites within its buffer zone.
“Russia is deliberately striking Ukrainian cities and villages, destroying cultural heritage and infrastructure. Documenting these crimes is essential for holding Russia accountable. At the same time, we are working to protect monuments and preserve museum collections that remain under threat,” said Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy and Minister of Culture Tetiana Berezhna.
Russian aggression has also damaged 2,665 cultural institutions, including 571 that have been completely destroyed, representing 21.4% of all affected institutions. Overall, cultural infrastructure has been damaged in 362 territorial communities.
According to the ministry, cultural centres account for the largest group of affected institutions, with 1,327 sites. Russian aggression has also damaged or destroyed 917 libraries, 197 arts education institutions, 140 museums and galleries, and 57 theatres, cinemas and philharmonic halls.
The affected sites also include nine nature and cultural reserves, 14 parks and zoos, three circuses and a film studio in Kyiv.
Cultural infrastructure has suffered the greatest losses and damage in the Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Sumy, Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia regions.
The Ministry of Culture also noted that Russian attacks destroyed more than 13 million books worth over UAH 1.75 billion during this summer alone. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russia has attacked printing houses, publishing companies, book warehouses and bookshops at least 21 times.
