Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance calls for Russia's expulsion from UNESCO

The institute announced this in a Facebook post, Ukrinform reports.

"We call on the international community to take consolidated action to stop the unprovoked war against Ukraine: the killing and abduction of children, civilians, and military personnel, the destruction by Russia of Europe's cultural heritage in Ukraine, and to put an end to the systematic disregard for international law. Over the years of the full-scale invasion, Russia has deliberately destroyed or damaged more than 1,600 cultural heritage sites in Ukraine. The Putin regime is waging a war aimed at destroying Ukraine," the statement reads.

The UINR is urging everyone to sign the appeal, which will be sent to UNESCO and international partners in the coming days, seeking Russia's removal from the organization.

The institute stressed that ongoing attacks on Ukraine's cultural heritage – much of which is protected by UNESCO – are part of a deliberate Kremlin policy aimed at erasing Ukraine's national memory and cultural identity.

Russian forces attacked Lviv with drones on March 24. Buildings in the city center, as well as a residential high-rise, were hit.

The attack also damaged a national architectural landmark – the Ensemble of the Bernardine Monastery.