The United Nations (UN) has warned that historical sites in the Ukrainian cities of Kiev and Lviv are under threat of destruction, because of the ongoing invasion by Russia.
The UN body for heritage and culture, Unesco, said that the conditions to protect these sites were not being met. The sites included a cathedral and monasteries in Kiev, and Lviv’s historical city centre.
‘Faced with the risk of direct attack, these sites are also vulnerable to the shockwaves caused by the bombing of the two cities,’ Unesco said.
The Ukrainian port city of Odessa was added to the list in January this year.
Russia has assured the UN that it is taking precautions to not damage historical sites, but Ukrainian authorities dispute this.