Unesco reports on the attack on a monastery in Ukraine without mentioning the attacker: Russia

This Tuesday, March 24, Russia attacked the Bernardine Monastery in Lviv, belonging to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.

A Russian attack sets fire to a historic Catholic monastery in Lviv, Ukraine
Russia has attacked nearly 600 Christian churches in Ukraine: what propagandists are keeping quiet about

The attack on that religious building took place amid a massive Russian attack on Ukraine using drones and missiles. Most of the projectiles were shot down by the Ukrainian Air Force, but some hit their targets. SPRAVDI released a video of the attack on the monastery in which it is clearly visible that the religious building was hit by a Shahed-type drone, a type of suicide drone supplied by Iran to Russia:

While Russians spend hundreds of millions a year attempting to convince the world that they are a "Christian nation", churches remain a constant target all across Ukraine.

Today, Russians struck the 17th-century St. Andrew’s Church, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Lviv. pic.twitter.com/POtaauB3EJ

— SPRAVDI — Stratcom Centre (@StratcomCentre) March 24, 2026

The Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, demanded a response from the Director-General of UNESCO regarding this attack.

Unesco's response arrived yesterday morning, publishing a brief statement which states the following:

"UNESCO alarmed by strikes on Lviv World Heritage Site

UNESCO is deeply alarmed by the 24 March strikes that hit a building in the area of Bernardine Monastery within the World Heritage property of ‘L’viv – the Ensemble of the Historic Centre’.

25 March 2026

UNESCO recalls that cultural property is protected under the 1954 Hague Convention and the 1972 World Heritage Convention. All parties must safeguard heritage and refrain from any acts harming cultural property. UNESCO stands ready to support the authorities with assessments, protection measures and emergency assistance."

This statement has received a barrage of criticism on Twitter, because, as can be seen by reviewing the text, Unesco does not mention the attacking country, Russia, nor the attacked country, Ukraine, and assumes an equidistant position, reminding "all parties" of its obligations, when only Russia is attacking protected artistic property in its war of aggression against Ukraine.

UNITED24, a Ukrainian government channel, criticized the Unesco statement, noting the following:

"We’re deeply alarmed by UNESCO’s inability to call out the culprits who destroy the cultural property this organization ought to preserve.

Primarily, because this lack of recognition emboldens russia and increases the chances of this happening again."

The criticism hasn't come only from Ukraine. Marcin Bosacki, Poland's Deputy Foreign Minister, commented:

"Is it a joke, @UNESCO? You claim to be „deeply alarmed” and you forget to even mention who bombed this precious heritage area in Lviv? Let me help you, @UNESCO - it was Putin’s Russia."

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Main image: @Bykvu.