Government approves support to cultural heritage preservation in Ukraine

“Support to Ukraine is the Government’s foremost foreign policy priority. Being able to retain and preserve its cultural heritage and national identity is important for Ukraine’s resilience and democratic development. I am proud that we can contribute through this important initiative,” says Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa.

“Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine clearly demonstrates how culture is systematically attacked in conflict, but also culture’s role in strengthening the resilience of the population. Russia is attempting to undermine Ukraine’s national and cultural identity by destroying Ukraine’s cultural heritage. This is why it is vital that Sweden supports Ukraine in work to protect and preserve its cultural heritage and improve social cohesion,” says Minister for Culture Parisa Liljestrand.

Since the launch of Russia’s war of aggression on Ukraine, UNESCO has documented damage to more than 500 cultural sites such as museums, monuments, libraries and churches. Several World Heritage Sites have been attacked, including in Lviv and Odesa. Against the backdrop of the extensive damage to cultural heritage sites and the acute risk of further losses, support is crucial to enable the protection and preservation of unique assets and to strengthen resilience.

The support to UNESCO is intended for the preservation of cultural heritage in Khortytsia National Reserve, a nature reserve in south-east Ukraine on the island of Khortytsia in the Dnipro River. Russia’s destruction of a nearby dam has exposed a large number of archaeological artefacts and sites along the water’s edge of Khortytsia that are considered to be of scientific and cultural interest. Sweden’s support will ensure the protection and long-term preservation of cultural heritage that is threatened by the war, and strengthen the capacity of the Khortytsia reserve’s staff and partner institutions. The support totals SEK 12 million, of which SEK 4 million is for 2026 and approximately SEK 8 million for 2027, and is financed within Sweden’s development assistance budget.