Vaida Aleknavičienė: The attack on the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra is a cynical crime against humanity’s cultural heritage and history
On Monday night, during a Russian airstrike against Ukraine, part of the UNESCO World Heritage site “Kyiv: Saint-Sophia Cathedral and Related Monastic Buildings, Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra” – specifically, the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra – was severely damaged. One of Ukraine’s most important spiritual, religious, and cultural centers, possessing exceptional universal value, is significant not only for Ukraine but also for the cultural heritage of all humanity. This site is also closely linked to the shared historical heritage of Lithuania and Ukraine – prominent personalities of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania are buried there, and the monastery complex itself bears witness to centuries-long cultural, religious, and historical ties between our nations.
“The attack on the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra is a brutal blow to Ukraine and a cynical crime against humanity’s history. Such barbaric acts reveal the aggressor’s complete disregard for the fundamental values of civilization and international law. Together with the global community, we unanimously condemn this act of aggression. Its perpetrators will inevitably face justice, as targeting cultural heritage during an armed conflict amounts to a war crime,” emphasizes Minister of Culture Vaida Aleknavičienė.
UNESCO and the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict play a vital role in safeguarding Ukraine’s cultural heritage by providing international legal protection for sites of this magnitude. Lithuania continues to work to ensure that these brutal acts receive a strong international response and actively supports the country fighting for its freedom. To contribute to the preservation and restoration of cultural heritage, the Ministry of Culture allocates 20,000 euros annually to the UNESCO Emergency Fund for Cultural Heritage, through which targeted support reaches Ukraine directly.
Consistent with this approach, the Ministry of Culture is actively continuing to implement the provisions of the bilateral declaration between the governments of Lithuania and Ukraine, with a particular focus on strengthening cultural resilience and heritage protection. One of the key priorities is investment in the professional development of cultural specialists working in Ukraine. This year, 100,000 euros have been allocated from the state budget to ensure the programme’s continuity. It is expected that approximately seventy restorers of cultural heritage and librarians will develop their skills in Lithuania. These internships, funded by our country, are implemented by the Pranas Gudynas Restoration Centre of the Lithuanian National Museum of Art and the Restoration Centre of the Lithuanian National Museum, as well as the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania and the Ieva Simonaitytė Library of Klaipėda County. At the same time, in cooperation with Ukrainian representatives, we continuously share best practices in organizing activities to promote media and information literacy among the public.
Lithuania’s national and state museums continue to implement vital work by preserving, restoring, and introducing to the public cultural treasures of Ukraine. Over the past few years, specialists in our country have already restored more than 1,500 cultural treasures, and currently up to 600 heritage objects are being safeguarded. This year, five exhibitions of artworks from the collections of Ukrainian state museums are planned in Lithuania, with approximately 220,000 euros allocated for their organization and the restoration of the exhibits.
Photo credit: BNS
Last updated: 16-06-2026
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