New International Fund Established to Channel Aid for Ukraine’s Cultural Recovery
The Ukrainian Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications has signed a memorandum with the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas (ALIPH) to establish a Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Fund.
The Gaze reports this, referring to the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine.
The agreement was concluded in Brussels by Acting Culture Minister Tetiana Berezhna and ALIPH Executive Director Valéry Freland.
According to the ministry, the new fund will serve as a central mechanism for channeling international financial aid into the preservation and restoration of Ukraine’s cultural heritage, much of which has been damaged or endangered by Russia’s war.
Headquartered in an EU member state, with a representative office in Ukraine, the fund will be tasked with attracting donor contributions, running competitive project tenders, promoting digital transformation in the heritage sector, and fostering professional expertise.
Berezhna described the initiative as “a reliable, transparent platform for delivering concrete projects – from protecting collections to restoring damaged landmarks,” adding that it represents “a major contribution to Ukraine’s resilience and recovery.”
“Thanks to clear rules of governance and partnership, we are creating not just a fund, but an effective tool with long-term impact and accountability,” Berezhna stated.
Freland said the fund would allow ALIPH to leverage its “experience, flexibility and professional expertise” within a new independent structure. “This is an important step in implementing our mission – to protect heritage that is under threat,” he noted.
The ministry has been preparing the initiative since early 2025 through consultations with international partners, Ukrainian civil society, and legal and financial experts.
It is also embedded in Ukraine’s Cultural Development Strategy to 2030 and endorsed under the Uzhhorod Declaration on strengthening cultural resilience.
Since launching its Ukraine Action Plan in March 2022, ALIPH has supported more than 500 Ukrainian organizations, financing projects to conserve collections, stabilize structures, and safeguard archives across the country.
According to official figures, 1,553 cultural heritage sites in Ukraine have been damaged since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
As The Gaze reported earlier, on August 26, Acting Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine (MCSC) Tetiana Berezhna met with a delegation from the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) led by Pavlo Grod to join forces in strengthening cultural resilience and restoring Ukrainian cultural values.