Ukraine’s ‘Pearl Of The Black Sea’ Added To World Heritage List By UNESCO

On January 27, 2023, UNESCO announced that due to the war between Russia and Ukraine, about 207 cultural heritage sites in Ukraine have been partially or completely destroyed by artillery fire, and only seven World Heritage sites may be left in Ukraine. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has listed Odesa, an important harbor in the south of Kyiv, as a World Heritage Site in Danger. “Odesa, a free city, a world city, a legendary port that has left its mark on cinema, literature and the arts, is thus placed under the reinforced protection of the international community. While the war continues, this inscription embodies our collective determination to ensure that this city, which has always surmounted global upheavals, is preserved from further destruction.” “This city whose name we all know is now placed under the highest level of protection by the international community”. On January 25, UNESCO announced the inscription of Ukraine’s Old Odessa district on the World Heritage List in Danger. The decision was approved at a special meeting in Paris on 25 January by six votes in favor, one against and fourteen abstentions, despite Russia’s previous resistance. In addition to its symbolic meaning, it also means that the signatories, including Russia, are prohibited from deliberately causing damage to the area, which is a strong guarantee for the city.

 Odesa, known as the pearl of the Black Sea, is the third largest city in Ukraine and an important port in the south, where many ships exporting food from the Black Sea leave. Now that it is listed as a “”World Heritage in Danger””, it is hopeful that local urban culture as well as the global food supply will be protected.