UNESCO Director-General meets with Zelenskyy in Chernihiv region and hands over certificate for Odesa

This was reported by the Office of the President.

During the meeting, Zelenskyy stressed the importance of UNESCO's solidarity with the people of Ukraine in the face of full-scale Russian aggression. He noted that Ukraine is fighting on the battlefield "for the values of democracy, its freedom and independence, for the future of Ukrainian children, as well as for Ukraine’s historical values and cultural heritage," so their protection is very important.

Separately, Zelenskyy emphasized the unacceptability of Russia's membership in UNESCO and the importance of a clear and powerful response of the organization and its bodies to Russia's war against Ukraine.

The Head of State informed Audrey Azoulay about the Ukrainian cultural sites destroyed and damaged by Russia, emphasizing that their total number is about 1190. He also spoke about the abduction and illegal export of Ukrainian cultural property from the temporarily occupied territories. He also emphasized the importance of UNESCO's role in engaging international partners in the restoration of Ukraine's damaged cultural heritage. During the meeting, Audrey Azoulay handed Zelenskyy a certificate of inclusion of the historic center of Odesa in the UNESCO World Heritage List in Danger. Expressing gratitude for this decision regarding Odesa, Zelenskyy also noted that it is important to include other Ukrainian cultural heritage sites, including the historic center of Chernihiv, on the UNESCO list.

• In January 2023, UNESCO designated the historic center of Odesa as a World Heritage Site in Danger