UNESCO Condemns Russian Attacks on Historic Centre of Odesa
UNESCO condemns Russia's attack on the night of 14-15 November, which damaged a number of historic buildings and schools in the historic centre of Odesa, which is under the protection of the organisation. This is reported on the organisation's website.
‘According to preliminary data, about twenty buildings, including historical and religious buildings, as well as several educational institutions, were damaged. UNESCO condemns these strikes, which violate international law, and expresses its support for the victims, the population and local authorities,’ the press release said.
It is noted that UNESCO's representative in Ukraine Chiara Bardeschi met with representatives of the Odesa municipality on Friday, and on Saturday, a mission of the organisation's experts went to Odesa to help assess the damage and prepare for the security of the buildings.
UNESCO has called for an end to attacks on cultural property, which is protected by widely ratified international legal norms.
On the night of 15 November, Russian troops attacked the centre of Odesa with missiles and drones. The massive combined strike damaged cultural heritage sites located within the World Heritage Site under threat, the Historic Centre of Odesa, and its buffer zone.
The attack killed one person and injured at least ten others, including a child.