The Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, with UNESCO’s support, organized the first summit of culture ministers to protect Ukraine’s heritage during wartime.
On February 1, 2025, Uzhhorod hosted the first international conference “Cooperation for Resilience”, bringing together delegations from 28 partner countries, along with representatives from the European Commission and UNESCO, including 18 at the ministerial and deputy ministerial levels.
The conference occurred a day after one of russia’s most audacious attacks on Ukrainian cultural heritage, when ballistic missiles struck the historic center of Odesa, including UNESCO-listed sites.
Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, stated in his video address that russian culture justifies russian crimes and called for tougher sanctions against russian propagandists.
“In a split second, an entire world of Ukrainian culture was erased. This happened in Sandarmokh, russia, where over 100 representatives of Ukrainian culture were executed in a single day. This crime became known as the ‘Executed Renaissance’. Then, as now, russia feared Ukrainian identity because culture makes us resilient and strong. But in trying to destroy it, russia ignores a fundamental truth – Ukrainian culture is like a phoenix. For centuries, russia has tried to erase it, yet it always rises from the ashes. Its ability to endure and be reborn proves that Ukrainian culture is eternal”, said Andriy Yermak.
Glenn Micallef, EU Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture, and Sport, who led the European Commission delegation, reaffirmed Europe’s strong support:
“The European Commission will stand with Ukraine for as long as needed. Europe is with you because we know that every day you fight for our shared freedom. Ukraine’s future is in the European Union. Ukraine is Europe”.
Mykola Tochytskyi, the Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, opened the discussion by calling for unified efforts to safeguard and restore Ukraine’s cultural heritage, which has suffered immense losses due to russia’s military aggression.
“We want to send a clear message to the world: Ukrainian culture must be protected. Today, consolidating international support for Ukraine’s cultural heritage is more crucial than ever. We must also intensify our efforts to assess the damage and losses”, emphasized the Minister.
The Conference was a practical step toward implementing Ukraine’s Internal Resilience Plan, introduced by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Parliament. One of the plan’s ten key pillars and a foundation of national resilience is “Cultural Sovereignty”.
Andrii Liubka, a writer, poet, and volunteer from Zakarpattia, was a special guest at the conference. He gave a heartfelt speech about the sacrifice of Maksym Plesh, a talented artist and philosopher who left his creative career to fight for Ukraine and died as a volunteer soldier.
“Help us preserve our culture, as it is essential for our defense of the country,” Andrii Liubka urged the participants.
1,333 cultural heritage sites and 2,185 cultural infrastructure facilities in Ukraine have been damaged as a result of russian aggression, as of late January 2025.
