Ukraine establishes cultural heritage protection unit in Armed Forces
Photo: Decision made by Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (Getty Images)
A unit for the protection of cultural heritage has been established within the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Its mission will be to protect and prevent the destruction of relevant objects, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
"The creation of a special unit is another measure to implement at the national level the provisions of the second part of Article 7 of the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict," the statement reads.
The decision was made by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and approved by a joint directive from Oleksandr Syrskyi and Ukraine’s Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov following extended consultations with international partners, the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, as well as the public.
The General Staff noted that the cultural heritage protection unit will operate within the civil-military cooperation structure of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The new unit will include service members with education and prior experience in the fields of culture, archaeology, history, and museum work.
The unit's primary task is to coordinate efforts aimed at protecting, preserving, and preventing the destruction of cultural heritage sites that may be at risk in the event of hostilities.
"This initiative is further evidence that Ukraine adheres to international law, fulfills its commitments, and maximally utilizes all existing mechanisms and tools for the protection and preservation of cultural property in conditions of armed conflict," the General Staff summarized.
Approximately two weeks ago, UNESCO’s Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict decided to organize a "special monitoring" mission in Kharkiv. This makes Ukraine the first country where this mechanism will be applied.
The goal is to document the damage to the Derzhprom building in Kharkiv, recently struck twice by Russian forces, in October and November.
