MFA urges UNESCO to hold Russia more accountable for destruction of cultural heritage in occupied Crimea
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (MFA) has lodged a strong protest against the planned holding on October 31 – November 1, 2026, on the grounds of the Khan's Palace in the occupied city of Bakhchysarai in Crimea, a series of mass events aimed at publicly glorifying the actions of the Russian Empire in the 19th century.
Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly protested plans to hold mass events at the Khan's Palace in occupied Bakhchysarai, Crimea, on October 31-November 1, 2026. The palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is of outstanding universal significance and Ukraine has included it on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List. Ukraine urges UNESCO and international bodies to take immediate action to halt Russia's use of cultural heritage sites as instruments of propaganda to justify its occupation.
The ministry notes that UNESCO has been documenting Russia's criminal actions in Crimea since 2014 and has informed UNESCO leadership about Russia's intentions. Ukraine calls for UNESCO to assess Russia's propaganda activities, strengthen international protection mechanisms for Ukrainian cultural heritage, and consider holding the Russian Federation accountable for its cultural genocide.
The Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, a representative body of the Crimean Tatars, also condemned the planned events, which include setting up a Russian army field camp and an exhibition glorifying Russia's imperial policies during the Crimean War of 1853-1856. They believe holding such events on the Khan's Palace, a global heritage site, is an attempt to glorify Russia's colonial policies and justify current actions against the Crimean Tatars.
The Mejlis emphasizes that Russia, as an occupying power, cannot acquire sovereign rights over Ukrainian cultural heritage sites and that using the monument for propaganda violates international humanitarian law and cultural property protection norms.
Written by urgent.news from Interfax-Ukraine's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
