The first online consultation with representatives of UNESCO World Heritage properties in Ukraine took place on March 9, 2022 at the initiative of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre in coordination with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss urgent needs and challenges, as well as to clarify the next steps with regards to the protection of cultural heritage in Ukraine in the face of the invasion of Russian occupation forces on the territory of Ukraine.

UNESCO's online meeting was attended by UNESCO Assistant-Director General for Culture Mr. Ernesto Ottone Ramirez, Director of the World Heritage Centre Mr. Lazare Eloundou Assomo and other colleagues from Europe and North America Unit, Culture and Emergencies Division, as well as representatives of the Advisory Bodies (ICOMOS, ICCROM, ICOM and IUCN).

Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine Ms. Kateryna Chuyeva informed the international community about the steps that were taken by the Ministry to ensure the preservation of cultural heritage of Ukraine, in particular, based on recommendations of the ICOM International Committee “Blue Shield” to identify and protect cultural sites with the distinctive emblem of the 1954 Hague Convention, as well as on the information front and volunteering activities.

Directors General of the National Preserves “Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra” and “St. Sophia of Kyiv”, representatives of World Heritage Cultural properties “Lviv - the Ensemble of the Historic Centre”, “Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans” and “Wooden Tserkvas of the Carpathian Region in Poland and Ukraine”, as well as the transnational natural site “Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe” informed about the current situation at the properties and measures taken to strengthen their security and protection of their cultural assets.

The Assistant-Director General of UNESCO for Culture assured that UNESCO stands with Ukraine in these difficult times and reaffirmed the Organization's readiness to provide comprehensive support within its mandate, including financial assistance from the Heritage Emergency Fund and the Fund for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict under the Second Protocol of 1999 to the 1954 Hague Convention. In addition, UNESCO plans to launch an online platform to provide round-the-clock consultations to Ukrainian experts on any issues related to the protection of cultural and natural heritage in Ukraine and to enhance its security in the conditions of this military conflict.