Following a Russian drone strike on Lviv’s historic center, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry condemned UNESCO’s reaction as inadequate and ineffective.
Russian Drone Attack on Lviv’s Center
On Tuesday, Shahed drones launched by Russia attacked the center of Lviv, resulting in 22 serious injuries. The drones struck near the Bernardine monastery and church.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Julia Swyrydenko reported that the 17th-century St. Andrew’s Church, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was damaged in the attack.
Ukrainian Criticism of UNESCO
On Wednesday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhij Tychy stated that UNESCO’s response to the Russian attack on the Bernardine monastery in Lviv was “shameful.”
“UNESCO reacted. Well, shame on them, what can I say? If they can’t even remember who struck the blow, and these are just some abstract attacks by some aliens on Lviv, well, what is there to talk about? Unfortunately, this is a verdict on the dysfunctionality of this organization, on its inability to call things by their names,” Tychy said at a press conference in Kyiv.
Emphasis on Evidence and Ukrainian Defense
The Foreign Ministry spokesperson noted that footage of the Russian Shahed drone striking the Bernardine monastery had been viewed by the entire online community.
“What else is needed to determine that it is Russia, or simply to say that it is a Russian attack? What is the problem at all? Unfortunately, we must state that the Ukrainian air defense system currently makes a greater contribution to the protection of UNESCO World Heritage than UNESCO itself as an organization,” he emphasized.
UNESCO’s Initial Response
Earlier on Wednesday, the organization stated it was deeply concerned about the shelling of Lviv, which affected an area on its list. UNESCO reminded that cultural property is protected by international conventions and offered assistance with protective measures.
It assured it was ready to provide support in urgent assistance, assessments, and protective actions.
Polish Foreign Ministry Condemns Attack
The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned the Russian attack on the center of Lviv on Wednesday via X (formerly Twitter).
“Poland strongly condemns the barbaric Russian drone attack on the historic center of Lviv, a UNESCO World Heritage site. A 17th-century monastery, a treasure of European civilization shaped by centuries of Polish and Ukrainian history, was set on fire in broad daylight. This is a deliberate attack on our common memory and identity,” the ministry stated.
“Russia, a party to the Hague conventions and UNESCO conventions only in name, is destroying the very heritage that these treaties are supposed to protect,” it added.
