Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has applied for inclusion of the Ukrainian port city of Odessa on the UNESCO World Heritage List. “We must send a clear signal so that the world does not look away when our common history, our common culture and our common heritage are being destroyed,” Zelenskyy said in a video message to the board of directors of the UN Cultural Organization.
The President of Ukraine campaigned for the preservation of the historic center of Odessa. The port city is a “source of culture for millions of people in different countries”. Odessa is known as the “Pearl of the Black Sea”. Founded by the Russian Empress Catherine the Great, the city is known for its monumental staircases and beautiful 19th-century architecture. With its huge port, the city, founded in 1794, already played a special role in the Russian tsarist empire.
Inclusion would create an extensive protection zone
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February, residents of Odessa have been scrambling to protect the city’s buildings and structures with sandbags and barricades. Inclusion on the World Heritage List would create an extensive conservation area. Both Ukraine and Russia have signed a treaty that prohibits states from destroying the cultural and natural heritage of others.
Strategically important target for Moscow
There have been several Russian attacks on Odessa since the beginning of the war. The city was a strategically important target for Moscow from the start. According to the President of Ukraine, 540 objects of cultural heritage, cultural institutions and religious buildings were hit.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
