The Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, with the support of UNESCO, organized the first summit of culture ministers to protect Ukraine’s cultural heritage from destruction during wartime.
On February 1, 2025, Uzhhorod hosted the inaugural international conference "Cooperation for Resilience", bringing together 28 partner country delegations, including representatives from the European Commission and UNESCO. Among them were 18 delegations at the level of ministers and deputy ministers of culture.
The event opened just a day after one of Russia’s most brazen attacks on Ukraine’s cultural heritage—ballistic missiles struck Odessa’s historic center, damaging UNESCO-protected sites.
In a video address to conference participants, Andrii Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, emphasized that Russian culture justifies Russian crimes and called for stronger sanctions against Russian propagandists.
"In the blink of an eye, an entire world of Ukrainian culture was destroyed. This happened in Sandarmokh, Russia, where over 100 Ukrainian cultural figures were executed in a single day. This crime became known as the 'Executed Renaissance.' Then, as now, Russia feared Ukrainian identity because culture is what makes us resilient and strong. But by destroying Ukrainian culture, Russians overlook one crucial fact—our culture is like a Phoenix. For centuries, they have tried to erase it, yet it rises from the ashes again and again. Its ability to be reborn proves that Ukrainian culture is eternal."
Glenn Micallef, EU Commissioner for Intergenerational Justice, Youth, Culture, and Sport, who led the European Commission delegation, reaffirmed the EU’s unwavering support:
"The European Commission will support Ukraine for as long as necessary. Europe stands with you because we understand that you fight for our freedom every day. Ukraine’s future is in the European Union. Ukraine is Europe."
Ukraine’s Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications, Mykola Tochytskyi, opened the discussion by calling for a unified effort to protect and restore Ukrainian cultural heritage, which has suffered immense losses due to Russia’s military aggression.
"We want to send a clear message to the global community: Ukrainian culture must be defended. It is crucial to consolidate international support and intensify efforts to assess damage and losses."
The conference format was a practical implementation of Ukraine’s Internal Resilience Plan, presented in Parliament by President Volodymyr Zelensky. One of the ten pillars of this strategic document, and a key aspect of national resilience, is "Cultural Sovereignty."
Special guest Andrii Lyubka, a writer, poet, and volunteer from Zakarpattia, delivered an inspiring speech honoring Maksym Plesh, a talented artist and philosopher who left his creative career to defend Ukraine as a volunteer and was killed on the front lines.
"Help us preserve our culture because it helps us preserve our country."
Cultural Losses Amid War
As of late January 2025, Russian aggression has damaged 1,333 cultural heritage sites and 2,185 cultural infrastructure objects across Ukraine.
