Kyiv, Two years into the conflict that has engulfed Ukraine, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has released a comprehensive assessment revealing that the war has inflicted nearly $3.5 billion in damage to the nation’s culture and tourism sectors. Furthermore, an estimated $9 billion will be required over the coming decade to facilitate the recovery of these vital areas.

According to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, this assessment, the third of its kind since February 2022, was conducted in collaboration with the World Bank, the Ukrainian government, the European Commission, and the United Nations. It meticulously details the impact on 4,779 cultural and tourist assets, as reported by Ukrainian authorities. This includes significant damage to heritage sites and buildings ($2.41 billion), artworks and cultural repositories ($161 million), cultural and creative industry facilities ($262 million), and tourism infrastructure ($650 million). The Kharkiv region has emerged as the most severely affected, with nearly a quarter of the total damages, followed by Donetsk and Odesa regions.

The assessment also highlights the staggering loss of revenue amounting to $19.6 billion since February 2022, exacerbated by a decline in tourism and a slowdown in the creative industries, particularly in Kyiv, which alone accounted for more than half of this financial loss.

To address the urgent needs arising from this devastation, UNESCO has successfully mobilized over $66 million in the past two years from its member states and the private sector, with Japan contributing nearly $26 million. These funds have supported a range of initiatives aimed at protecting cultural heritage, providing education, and supporting the media. A UNESCO liaison office has been established in Kyiv to coordinate these efforts, involving emergency equipment provision, risk management systems, and the digitization of cultural properties to aid in their preservation and reconstruction.

In addition to these immediate measures, UNESCO has embarked on reconstruction projects and provided extensive training to over 1,600 cultural professionals in Ukraine. These efforts are geared towards not only restoring damaged sites but also preserving the country’s rich cultural heritage for future generations. The organization is also fostering cultural life through artist residencies and grants for artistic projects, with plans to open a UNESCO cultural centre in Lviv, funded by Spain, in mid-2024.

This report underscores the profound impact of the conflict on Ukraine’s cultural and tourism sectors and the international commitment to aiding in their recovery and resilience.