Budanov: Russia's destruction of culture, memory, identity is another form of genocide
Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said this in a post on Telegram on the occasion of the Day of Monuments of History and Culture, Ukrinform reports.
Budanov stressed that the world on this day speaks about the value of what previous generations created and left behind – cultural heritage.
"From Chernihiv to Sevastopol, from Mariupol to Lviv, Moscow is destroying our churches, museums, libraries, and theaters. As of early April 2026, we have figures that are hard to comprehend: according to official data, Russians have damaged or completely destroyed 1,723 cultural heritage sites and 2,524 cultural infrastructure facilities, and have stolen tens of thousands of museum artifacts," he said.
In his opinion, the destruction of cultural monuments is an attempt to deprive Ukrainians of their foundation, erase the link between generations, and call into question the very right to their own history.
"The systematic destruction of our culture, memory, and identity is another expression of Moscow's policy of intolerance and genocide against Ukrainians," Budanov said.
He stressed that every crime must be documented, every destroyed monument recorded, and every stolen item returned.
"Culture is not about entertainment. It is about who we are. It is what we will pass on to our children after victory. We will rebuild the walls. But most importantly, we will preserve our culture and memory. They have proven stronger than Moscow's missiles," he said.
Photo: Zakarpattia Regional Military Administration
