Ukraine’s culture and tourist sectors will require $9 billion over ten years to recover, according to the United Nations’ cultural office, which also stated that the two-year war has cost the country over $19.6 billion in tourism earnings.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launched Europe’s bloodiest battle since World War II, and there is no end in sight.
“The damage continues to increase, and the needs for the sector’s recovery continue to grow,” Krista Pikkat, head of culture and emergencies at UNESCO, told reporters, adding that the capital city of Kyiv alone lost $10 billion in revenue.
In an assessment ahead of the war’s two-year anniversary, UNESCO anticipated that the cost of cultural property destruction would be around $3.5 billion, up 40% from 2023 levels.
It stated that it has assessed damage to 340 buildings, including museums, monuments, libraries, and religious facilities.
“International solidarity will be essential to meeting these needs,” said the report’s authors. “The implementation of risk prevention measures and the support for the creative industries are also important levers to reduce the estimated long-term impact of the war.”