A UNESCO monitoring mission (ICOMOS) has arrived in Kyiv to assess the state of preservation of UNESCO World Heritage sites, in particular the National Reserve “St. Sophia Cathedral” and adjacent monastic buildings, as well as the National Reserve “Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra,” according to the Department of Cultural Heritage Protection of the Kyiv City State Administration (KCSA).
“During the visit, the delegation discussed the current state of the territory, challenges related to the preservation of the historical environment, and further steps to improve the use of the buffer zone in accordance with Ukraine’s international obligations,” the statement said.
It is noted that as part of the monitoring, the mission inspected a number of sites: the building at the corner of Sofiivska Street, 20/21 and Volodymyrska Street, 21/20, which was granted the status of a newly discovered cultural heritage site last year and was entered into the register of monuments; the building at 17/23 Olesya Gonchara Street, where, in accordance with UNESCO recommendations, it is proposed to dismantle the superimposed floors and bring the height of the building in line with the parameters of the neighboring historic buildings; the building at 32 Velyka Zhytomyrska Street (the so-called house with snakes and chestnuts), which is currently undergoing restoration; part of Peizazhna Alley.
As reported, on the night of January 24, the sites of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra reserve, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, were damaged as a result of a massive Russian missile and drone attack. In particular, the following were damaged: Building No. 66 — the entrance to the Far Caves complex, and Building No. 67 (Annozachatiivska Church). The blast wave knocked out some of the windows and doors, and damaged fragments of plasterwork in many places.
On June 10, 2025, St. Sophia Cathedral was damaged as a result of enemy shelling.
