The destruction of Ukraine’s cultural heritage by the Russian Federation was at the heart of the debate of Congress members on Tuesday 15 October.
Mykola Tochytskyi, Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, stressed that “the destruction and looting of cultural heritage is a deliberate attempt to destroy Ukraine’s culture and identity.” He called upon local and regional authorities in Europe to help protect Ukraine’s cultural heritage, pointing out that it is a shared responsibility. The Minister further noted that his administration is documenting any type of crime against Ukrainian cultural heritage and that the evidence will be used to demand reparations for the damage inflicted by the Russian Federation to historical, cultural and religious heritage.
“The Russian Federation is trying to wipe out our history and national identity through the destruction of cultural heritage, which is our link with past generations,” underlined Mykola Lukashuk, Chair of Dnipropetrovsk Regional Council in Ukraine, while commenting of the ‘weaponisation of culture’ by the Russian Federation. He also pointed out that the Russian Federation’s propaganda war continues, aiming to destroy Ukrainian identity.
The co-rapporteurs of the Declaration adopted by the Congress, Martine Dieschburg-Nickels (Luxembourg, L, ILDG) and Gunn-Marit Helgesen (Norway, R, EPP/CCE), concluded that “it is our common duty to preserve and restore Ukraine’s cultural heritage” and encouraged local and regional authorities to establish cultural heritage partnerships with Ukrainian villages, towns and cities to support them in this quest.
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