Ukrainian Parliament Urges UNESCO to Strip Russia of Membership

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has made an appeal to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the parliaments and governments of its member states to take necessary measures to revoke Russia's membership in UNESCO.

The Ukrainian Parliament passed the corresponding resolution number 9535, which has been published on the Ukrainian Parliament's website. The resolution received support from 296 parliamentarians.

In its appeal, the Verkhovna Rada proposes that UNESCO, along with foreign parliaments and governments, initiate consultations to amend the organization's statute and proceed with removing Russia from UNESCO and its affiliated bodies.

Additionally, the Ukrainian Parliament calls on other countries' parliaments and governments to firmly condemn the war crimes committed by the Russian Federation against Ukraine's cultural heritage, particularly the objects inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List.

The Verkhovna Rada emphasizes the necessity of conducting thorough investigations into these crimes, holding all responsible parties accountable, and ensuring justice through both national and international jurisdictions.

At the same time, the Ukrainian Parliament urges UNESCO to urgently send a mission to assess the damages caused by Russian attacks on World Heritage objects in Lviv and Odesa. Following this assessment, UNESCO can determine criteria for assistance and possible measures to protect Ukraine's cultural heritage from Russian military aggression.

On July 6th, Russia launched a massive missile strike on civilian infrastructure in Lviv, resulting in 10 deaths and 48 injuries. Over 40 buildings in the city's historical center and more than 50 vehicles were damaged. Later, on July 23rd, Russian forces carried out a massive missile attack on Odesa and its region, also causing damage to Odesa's historical center, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. UNESCO has already condemned the missile strike on Odesa by Russian forces.

Since the full-scale invasion by Russia, a total of 664 objects of Ukraine's cultural heritage have been damaged by Russian military actions. As of June 25th, the military authorities have documented the following damages or destruction:

• 211 architectural landmarks;
• 186 objects of architecture and urban planning;
• 179 historical landmarks;
• 18 objects of monumental art history;
• 17 objects of urban planning and monumental art;
• 16 archaeological sites.

Among these, at least 24 objects have been completely destroyed by Russia, 523 have been partially damaged, and the degree of damage to 115 objects requires further clarification.

The deliberate targeting and destruction of cultural objects can be considered a war crime. However, Russia still maintains its membership in UNESCO.