During the fourth module, “Ukrainian Heritage Fund”, at the first international conference on Ukrainian culture, “Cooperation for Resilience”, speakers stressed the importance of joining efforts to restore and preserve cultural heritage.
The Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine reported that, as of the end of January 2025, 1,333 cultural heritage sites and 2,185 cultural infrastructure facilities had been damaged due to russian aggression.
“Regretfully, there hasn’t been a month without an increase in these statistics, and they are expected to keep rising. For example, the recent shelling of Odesa resulted in damage to 26 objects in the historical center as of February 1, and assessment work is still ongoing. According to RDNA3 data from the end of 2023, total losses in the culture and tourism sector are estimated at nearly $20 billion. Over the next ten years, the total restoration needs, including services and rebuilding, are projected to be almost $9 billion. This issue extends beyond buildings to include movable cultural property, museum collections, and the restoration of creative and cultural industries”, said Galyna Grygorenko, First Deputy Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine.
She noted that the primary needs from 2022 to 2024 include packaging materials, transportation for monument evacuation, stabilization of damaged sites, storage and equipment for shelters in cultural institutions, and preservation equipment such as generators.
In 2025, the Ministry will continue to develop national policies, including legislative frameworks that align with Ukraine’s EU accession goals, as well as electronic registers for the Museum Fund of Ukraine and immovable cultural heritage sites. Plans also include preparing for the further restoration of monuments and expanding storage for collections needing evacuation.
“This is why we plan to establish a new institution with a transparent management and decision-making system to support capital projects in cultural heritage and facilitate the necessary evacuation of artifacts, as well as provide storage equipment in cultural institutions. Additionally, projects that monitor the condition of cultural heritage sites, support ongoing digitization efforts, and promote scientific research will also need backing”, added Galyna Grygorenko.
Ernest Urtasun Domènech, the Minister of Culture of Spain, supported the creation of the Ukrainian Heritage Fund and urged other countries to help in its development: “In a sense, we are laying the groundwork for future international actions related to conflicts and the damage done to heritage and culture. I believe the work you are doing will leave a lasting impact on history. I express gratitude to Ukraine for bringing up this important issue”.
Werner Kogler, Federal Minister for Arts, Culture, the Civil Service and Sport of Austria, stressed the importance of humanitarian, financial, and diplomatic support for Ukraine in his video address: “We will support Ukraine for as long as necessary. Over the past three years, Austria has launched key initiatives to support Ukrainian artists and scholars. I am proud of initiatives like the Ukrainian Office in Austria. A significant event for contemporary Ukrainian art will be the Kyiv Biennale, set to take place in Austria and other European countries in 2025. Another goal for future cooperation is the exchange of expertise in heritage preservation”.
Chiara Dezzi Bardeschi, the Head of the UNESCO Office in Ukraine, emphasized that a systematic approach and long-term cooperation are vital for restoring and protecting cultural heritage: “Culture is about quality of life, sustainability, and inclusiveness. These values are democratic and focused on human rights, fundamentally transforming society. Unfortunately, we have all seen alarming data about the destruction of cultural infrastructure. Therefore, it is essential to coordinate professional efforts aimed at preserving the cultural sector”.
