Ukraine’s Parliament Moves to Unite Global Efforts in Safeguarding the Nation’s Cultural Heritage.

Parliamentary Debate on a Landmark Resolution

According to Espreso.tv: A resolution now under discussion in Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada aims to rally international backing for the protection of Ukrainian cultural heritage, which has suffered extensive destruction due to Russian aggression. Introduced by Petro Poroshenko, the document outlines the Kremlin’s systematic efforts to erase Ukraine’s national identity.

As of late June 2026, the war has damaged or destroyed 1,949 cultural heritage sites and 2,576 cultural infrastructure facilities across Ukraine. Among them, 46 monuments have been completely leveled. The hardest-hit areas span 18 regions, with the highest tolls recorded in:

• Kharkiv region – 356
• Kherson region – 305
• Odesa region – 208
• Donetsk region – 225
• Kyiv region and the city of Kyiv – 295

“Russia is deliberately destroying Ukraine’s cultural and historical heritage.”

Petro Poroshenko

Poroshenko highlighted the deliberate nature of these attacks, stating: “This is precisely why the enemy is striking the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, and why it is targeting the Shukhevych house.” He called for immediate condemnation of the aggressor and its expulsion from all international organizations, urging: “Our appeal is to condemn immediately and expel the aggressor from every international body.”

Key Elements of Kremlin Policy

The resolution identifies several core tactics employed by the Kremlin, including:

• destruction of historical and cultural monuments
• damage to museums
• theft of cultural artifacts
• forced Russification
• restrictions on the use of the Ukrainian language

“I deeply value, and it is a great honor for me, to present an issue that unites us all.”

Petro Poroshenko

The parliamentary debate on this document reflects grave concern over the state of Ukraine’s cultural heritage and the urgent need for concerted international action. This initiative not only underscores the importance of preserving cultural assets during wartime but also seeks to mobilize the global community in supporting Ukraine against an aggression that threatens both its territorial integrity and its people’s cultural identity. Given the scale of destruction, such measures could prove pivotal in raising worldwide awareness about the imperative to protect cultural treasures in armed conflicts.