Since Russian forces launched their full-scale attack on Ukraine, UNESCO has documented damage to 527 cultural sites in Ukraine, it said in its latest assessment on May 13.

Of the damaged sites, 153 are religious, 276 are buildings of historical or artistic interest, 39 are museums, 33 are monuments, 21 are libraries, 4 are archaeological sites, and 1 is an archive.

The affected institutions include the Chernihiv Regional Universal Scientific Library, the Central City Library in Irpin, the Khanenko Museum, the National Museum Taras Shevchenko, the State Scientific Library of the name of H. Skovoroda in Kharkiv, the Art Museum of the city of Kharkiv, and the Hryhoriy Skovoroda National Literary Memorial Museum.

UNESCO has preliminary damage assessments which involve cross-checking reported incidents with multiple credible sources, such as satellite imagery and independent damage assessment mechanisms developed with partner organisations, in accordance with the terms of the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, 1954.

On April 20, the Embassy of Sweden to Ukraine shared news in the press about the support provided to UNESCO for preserving Ukraine’s cultural heritage in 2026–2027 in the amount of SEK 12 million (about US$1.1 million). Some of the money will be used for preservation efforts at the Khortytsia National Reserve in southeastern Ukraine. The Swedish government claimed in a press release that the destruction of the Kakhovka dam by the Russians uncovered archaeological artefacts and scientific and cultural sites along the Dnipro Riverbank.

The funding package comprises SEK 4 million for 2026 and around SEK 8 million for 2027. UNESCO earlier estimated the cost of restoring cultural sites and tourism infrastructure in Ukraine over the next 10 years to be US$9 billion, caused by Russia’s invasion.