The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced today that it has placed the Ukrainian city of Odessa on its list of world heritage sites, CNN reports.
Based on the UNESCO Convention, its member countries, including Russia and Ukraine, are obliged to "not take any measures with the intention of directly or indirectly damaging their own heritage or the heritage of another member of the Convention".
The Director General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, expressed in a statement the hope that this decision will help to protect Odessa from war.
"Odessa, a free city, a world city and a legendary port that left its mark on film, in literature and art, is hereby placed under the increased protection of the international community," Azulej said and added: "While the war continues, this record embodies our collective the determination to save this city, which has always remained above global turmoil, from further destruction".
The announcement highlighted that UNESCO's decision will enable Ukraine to access "technical and financial international assistance" for the protection and rehabilitation of the center of Odessa.
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