A missile strike by Russia on the UNESCO-listed historic center of Odesa has damaged around 15 monuments, according to the city's mayor.
As a result of a missile strike by the Russian Federation, the "Historic Center of Odessa," which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, sustained damage to approximately 15 historical buildings in downtown Odessa. The "Bristol" hotel building suffered significant destruction, reported the city’s mayor, Gennady Trukhanov, on Telegram on Saturday, according to UNN.
According to him, the primary damages included shattered windows and displaced carpentry fillings.
"Among the affected sites are two monuments of national significance: the Philharmonic (New Exchange), the Vuchini House, as well as two museums: the Museum of Western and Eastern Art and a branch of the Literary Museum (Sikara House)," Trukhanov noted.
He mentioned that the stained glass and authentic carpentry fillings of large windows with semi-circular tops in the buildings of the Union of Architects of Ukraine and the "Porto-Franco" bank received significant damage.
"The most valuable from an architectural and social perspective among the damaged buildings is the Philharmonic (New Exchange). The blast wave shattered the authentic carpentry filling of the main entrance, damaged the stained glass, and affected the interior finishes. Experts will assess the impact of the attack on the condition of the main structures after further inspections," Trukhanov stated.
Since 2023, the Philharmonic building has been under enhanced protection by UNESCO in accordance with the Second Protocol of 1999 to the Hague Convention of 1954 "On the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict."