During the fourth module of the "Ukrainian Heritage Fund" at the first international Ukraine Culture Conference "Cooperation for Resilience," speakers discussed the importance of directing joint efforts to support the restoration and preservation of cultural heritage.
According to the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine (MKSK), 1,333 cultural heritage sites and 2,185 cultural infrastructure objects have been damaged in Ukraine due to Russian aggression as of the end of January 2025.
"Unfortunately, there hasn't been a single month without an increase in statistics. And, unfortunately, it will continue to grow. A recent example is yesterday's shelling of Odesa. As of the morning of February 1, 26 objects in the historic center of Odessa were damaged, but the work of commissions is still ongoing. According to RDNA3 data, at the end of 2023, total losses in the cultural and tourism sector were estimated at nearly 20 billion dollars. Over the next 10 years, the total need for restoration, including services and restoration work, is nearly 9 billion dollars. Of course, this concerns not only buildings but also movable cultural values, museum collections, and the restoration of creative and cultural industries," said Halyna Hryhorenko, First Deputy Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine.
She mentioned that the main needs between 2022 and 2024 included packaging materials, transport for evacuation to protect monuments, stabilization of damaged objects, shelters and equipment for cultural institutions, and storage equipment for preserving collections, including generators.
In 2025, MKSK will continue to work on national policies, including the legislative framework, which aligns with Ukraine's EU accession course, and electronic registers — the Museum Fund of Ukraine and immovable cultural heritage sites. Furthermore, preparations for further monument restoration and expanding storage for collections requiring evacuation are planned.
"This is why we want to build a new institution with a transparent management system and decision-making process that would support major cultural heritage projects and assist with the necessary evacuation of cultural values, as well as the development of storage facilities in cultural institutions. Additionally, projects focusing on monitoring the condition of cultural heritage objects, further digitization of cultural heritage, and supporting scientific research need attention," added Halyna Hryhorenko.
Spanish Minister of Culture Ernest Urtasun Domenech supported the idea of creating the Ukrainian Heritage Fund and urged other countries to assist in its development:
"In a way, we are laying the groundwork for future international action when it comes to conflicts and damage done to heritage and culture. I think the work you are doing will leave a mark in history. I thank Ukraine for raising this issue."
Werner Kogler, Austrian Federal Minister for Arts, Culture, Public Service, and Sport, emphasized the importance of humanitarian, financial, and diplomatic support for Ukraine in his video address:
"We will support Ukraine as long as necessary. Over the past three years, Austria has implemented key initiatives to support Ukrainian artists and scholars. I am proud of such initiatives for Ukrainian artists, such as the Ukrainian office in Austria. A significant event for contemporary Ukrainian art will be the Kyiv Biennale held in Austria and other European countries in 2025. Another task for future collaboration is the exchange of experience in the field of heritage preservation."
UNESCO Office Head in Ukraine, Chiara Dezi Bardeschi, noted that systematic approaches and long-term cooperation are critical for the restoration and protection of cultural heritage:
"Culture is about the quality of life, sustainability, inclusiveness. These are all values that are democratic, human rights-centered, and that completely change society. Unfortunately, we have all heard terrible data about destroyed cultural infrastructure objects. Therefore, it is essential to coordinate efforts of professionals aimed at preserving the cultural sector."
