Culture Under Fire: Russia’s War Leaves 1,600 Ukrainian Heritage Sites in Ruins
Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture has reported that 1,612 cultural heritage monuments and 2,427 cultural infrastructure facilities have been damaged or destroyed since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
The Gaze reports this, referring to a statement made by the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine.
The figures, current as of October 25, highlight the immense cultural losses sustained over more than two years of war.
According to the ministry, 149 of the affected heritage sites are of national significance, 1,311 are of local importance, and 152 have been newly identified as heritage assets.
Damage has been recorded across 18 regions and in Kyiv, with the most destruction occurring in Kharkiv (342 sites), Kherson (294), Odesa (182), Donetsk (173), and the Kyiv region and capital (156 combined).
In addition to historical monuments, 2,427 cultural institutions have been hit by shelling and combat. Of these, 493 have been completely destroyed. The Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Kyiv, Sumy, and Mykolaiv regions have suffered the most severe losses.
The list of affected sites includes 1,180 community cultural centers, 852 libraries, 186 art schools, 134 museums and galleries, 50 theaters, cinemas and philharmonic halls, nine nature reserves, 11 parks and zoos, four circuses, and even Kyiv’s film studio.
In total, destruction has been documented in 327 territorial communities, with the highest numbers in Donetsk (46 communities), Sumy (37), Kharkiv (33), Chernihiv (31), Zaporizhzhia (29), Mykolaiv (23), Dnipropetrovsk (22), Kyiv (21), and Luhansk (12).
The ministry emphasized that the true extent of destruction is likely higher, as large parts of Luhansk and significant areas of Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Kherson remain under Russian occupation, making comprehensive damage assessments impossible.
In response to the devastation, Ukraine and its international partners have launched the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Fund, aimed at mobilizing global and domestic resources to protect, restore, and develop Ukraine’s cultural heritage and creative sector.
The ministry said the fund reflects Ukraine’s commitment to preserving culture as “a cornerstone of national identity, democracy, and European belonging.”
Earlier this month, Ukraine received its first international contributions to the newly established fund. Denmark recently announced a €1.3 million donation to support the restoration of Ukrainian cultural heritage.
“The ministry and its partners continue to work together to overcome the consequences of destruction and rebuild Ukraine’s cultural potential,” the statement reads.
As The Gaze previously reported, Ukraine has been elected to the UNESCO Executive Board for the period 2025–2029 with record support — 137 votes, which is an important diplomatic victory for the country.
Read more on The Gaze: Ukraine’s Government Action Program 2025–2026: Building a Resilient State Through Defense, Reforms, and European Integration