Strike on the Sviatohirsk Lavra: Volodymyr Zelenskyy awaits the reaction of the UN and UNESCO
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy calls on the United Nations and UNESCO to expel Russia from these organizations as a terrorist state that destroys historical monuments and social infrastructure in Ukraine.
On June 4, 2022, Russian artillery struck the Sviatohirsk Lavra in the Donetsk region again. The fire destroyed the Vsikhsviatskyi Skete [All Saints’ Hermitage] consecrated in 1912.
It was first destroyed during the Soviet era. Later it was rebuilt. And now it has been set on fire by the Russian army.
On June 1, 2022, Russian shells exploded in the cells of the Lavra monks. Four people were killed, and four others were seriously injured. Sviatohirsk has been under fire since May 2022.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in social networks:
“The occupiers know exactly what object is being shelled. They know that there are no military targets on the territory of the Sviatohirsk Lavra. They know that about 300 civilians are hiding there from hostilities, including 60 children. But still, the Russian army is shelling the Lavra like the whole of Donbas, like any other territory and any other object of Ukraine that can be reached, they don’t care what turns into ruins.
On May 31, 2022, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine appealed to UNESCO to deprive Russia of its membership in this organization. Ukrainian diplomacy is consistently working on this. No country other than Russia has destroyed so many monuments and cultural and social sites in Europe since World War II.
Every church burned by Russia in Ukraine, every school blown up, and every memorial destroyed proves that Russia has no place in UNESCO. What can we talk about with a barbarian state, with a terrorist state? About the choice of better artillery shells for destroying historical heritage?
We expect a logical and fair response from the UN and UNESCO. It is the United Nations, and its Statute does not assume uniting with terrorists. Russia’s isolation must be complete, it must be held accountable for its crimes.”
