Ukrainian Armed Forces set up cultural heritage protection unit – Ukraine's General Staff

The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) have created a special unit to protect cultural heritage. Source: a decision made by Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as reported by Ukraine's General Staff Details: The General Staff explained that the initiative is intended to implement provisions of international law, specifically the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.

The unit will operate within the framework of the Armed Forces' civilian-military cooperation.

Its tasks include coordinating efforts to protect and preserve cultural heritage sites threatened by the ongoing hostilities and to prevent their destruction. The unit will be staffed by military personnel with specialised education and experience in culture, archaeology, history and museum work. "This initiative is further proof that Ukraine adheres to international law, fulfils its obligations, and makes the most of all the available mechanisms and tools for the protection and preservation of cultural property in the context of armed conflict," the General Staff said.

Background: 

• A cultural heritage protection unit was created within Ukraine's Territorial Defence Forces as a pilot project in October 2023.
• "One of the goals of this unit is to gather evidence for the International Criminal Court.

  The military has to work with representatives of cultural institutions in their area of expertise," explained Ihor Poshyvaylo, a member of the unit and director of the Maidan (Revolution of Dignity) Museum.

• In July 2024, Ukraine created the first national team to provide a rapid response in the event of damage to cultural monuments.

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