Over 150 Ukraine cultural landmarks destroyed by Russia's war: UN

UNexperts have confirmed the full or partial destruction of 152culturaland historic heritage sites inUkrainesinceRussiainvaded the country, itsculturalagency said Thursday.

They include museums and monuments, churches and other religious buildings, and libraries and other exceptional buildings, UNESCO said inan update of its efforts to assistUkraineauthorities in documenting the damage.

"These repeated attacks on Ukrainianculturalsites must stop.Culturalheritage, in all its forms, should not be targeted under any circumstances," UNESCO'S director-general Audrey Azoulay said in a statement.

Her agency has been helpingUkraineauthorities to marklandmarkswith the distinctive "blue shield," meaning they are protected under the 1954 Hague convention on culture in armed conflicts, of which bothRussiaandUkraineare signatories.

Watch |Russia-Ukraine war: Russia pounds Kharkiv & Eastern Donbas, Ukrainian soldiers fight back

Yet dozens of sites have been damaged since the start of the Russian invasion on February 24, with three-quarters in the eastern regions of Kharkiv and Donetsk as well as near the capital Kyiv, UNESCO said in its update.

But for now, the seven World Heritage Sites inUkrainehave not been affected, such as the Saint Sophia Cathedral and monastic buildings of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra in the capital.

Ukrainehas demanded thatRussiabe expelled from UNESCO, and the agency has indefinitely postponed a meeting to discuss the status of World Heritage Sites thatRussiawas to host this month in the city of Kazan.

UNESCO has warned that Russian troops or officials found guilty of knowingly destroyingUkraineheritage sites could be prosecuted under international law.

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