Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and Chairperson of the National Commission of Ukraine for UNESCO, Mariana Betsa, held a meeting with Chiaro Decci Bardeski, Head of the UNESCO Office in Ukraine.

Mariana Betsa expressed gratitude to Chiaro Decci Bardeski and the UNESCO Office team in Ukraine for their continuous support of Ukraine and for ensuring the stable operation of the Office amid the full-scale war. She emphasized the key role of close coordination between the National Commission and the UNESCO Office for the successful implementation of Ukraine’s mandate as a member of the UNESCO Executive Board for the 2025-2029 term.

“Ukraine’s election to the UNESCO Executive Board reflects the international community’s trust in our country during an exceptionally challenging period. At the same time, it places a special responsibility on us and requires even closer coordination with the UNESCO Office in Ukraine,” the Chairperson of the National Commission noted.

During the meeting, the parties discussed pressing issues related to the protection of Ukraine’s cultural heritage amid Russian armed aggression. The Head of the UNESCO Office in Ukraine provided an update on the initiation of technical assessment and monitoring of damage to the Odesa Astronomical Observatory, which is under temporary enhanced protection in accordance with the 1954 Hague Convention and the Second Protocol of 1999, as well as the technical evaluation of damage to the sites of the National «Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra» Reserve, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, caused by the massive Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv on the night of 24 January 2026.

Highlighting the comprehensive support of the UNESCO Office in Ukraine in the fields of culture, education, and media, Mariana Betsa stressed that “crimes against culture remain a component of Russia’s military strategy, and documenting damage and conducting international UNESCO expertise are critically important both for the restoration of affected sites and for holding the aggressor accountable.”

Following the meeting, the parties agreed to strengthen coordination between the Secretariat of the National Commission of Ukraine for UNESCO and the UNESCO Office in Ukraine to further address the consequences of the war and ensure Ukraine’s effective participation in the work of the UNESCO Executive Board.