Statement on Protection of Cultural Heritage in Ukraine

The recent escalation of Russian attacks in May 2026 has significantly intensified the dangers posed to civilian populations across Kyiv and other regions of Ukraine. The International Council of Museums (ICOM) expresses its deep concern and sadness at the lives lost in these most recent attacks, as well as the resulting increase in casualties, displacements, and damage to civilian infrastructure. These hostilities have also placed Ukraine's cultural heritage at heightened risk.

On 24 May, damage to several cultural institutions resulting from shelling by the Russian Armed Forces was officially reported. Among the affected institutions are the National Art Museum of Ukraine (NAMU) and the Ukrainian National Chernobyl Museum, which was significantly impacted.

ICOM recalls that all State Parties to the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the event of armed conflicts and its Protocols, of which both Ukraine and the Russian Federation are party, are obliged to comply with their responsibilities to protect cultural heritage in times of armed conflict.

The protection of cultural heritage is inseparable from the protection of human lives, as heritage represents not only the memory and identity of communities, it is also a vital foundation for strengthening resilience, fostering peace, and supporting long-term recovery in the aftermath of crisis. ICOM has continually called for the protection of people and cultural heritage in Ukraine since the war began. This includes public statements published in February 2022, March 2022, February 2023, June 2025 and April 2026, each one calling on all parties to respect human lives and cultural heritage. In May 2024, ICOM, ICA, ICOMOS and IFLA released a Joint Declaration on the protection of archives, libraries and heritage places during armed conflicts and political instability. In August 2025, ICOM published the ICOM Statement for Peace, underlining the organisation's commitment to empowering museums to foster mutual understanding.

ICOM remains committed to supporting museums and museum professionals through the provision of essential materials and resources, supporting training in emergency preparedness and response procedures, providing funding for protection measures, for instance through the SAREC grants, and by continuing to advocate for their needs at international level.

Through this ongoing support, ICOM reaffirms that the safeguarding of cultural heritage is not only a duty in times of conflict, but also a vital contribution to peace, dialogue, and the shared future of all communities.

In this spirit, ICOM firmly aligns itself with UNESCO's 25 May 2026 statement and joins the wider international community in unequivocally condemning attacks on civilians and on cultural heritage, while calling on all parties to immediately protect cultural heritage, respect international humanitarian law, and ensure the urgent safeguard of people and culture.

About ICOM

The International Council of Museums (ICOM) is an international organization of museums and museum professionals committed to the research, conservation, and communication of the world's natural and cultural tangible and intangible heritage. As a forum of experts, ICOM makes recommendations on issues related to cultural heritage, promotes capacity building and advance knowledge. ICOM is the voice of museum professionals on the international stage and raises public cultural awareness through global networks and cooperation programs.