UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany has arrived in Ukraine for his first visit to the country in this role.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said the visit was an important signal of solidarity and support.
“It is particularly symbolic that the visit is taking place on the day we mark the 975th anniversary of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra — a unique monument of Ukrainian history and culture and part of the world heritage,” Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said following their meeting.
Sybiha stressed that Ukraine’s practical experience in protecting cultural heritage during Russia’s full-scale war should be used to improve international mechanisms for safeguarding cultural sites during armed conflicts.
Particular attention was given to the return of Ukrainian cultural and historical treasures stolen by Russia. Sybiha said their systematic removal from temporarily occupied territories had reached an industrial scale and called for stronger UNESCO mechanisms to facilitate the return of illegally exported Ukrainian cultural heritage.
The two sides also discussed deeper cooperation in culture, education and science.
Sybiha praised UNESCO’s role in mobilising international support for Ukraine. As of August 2026, the organisation had secured more than $77 million in assistance to Ukraine in areas covered by its mandate.
During the 2026 Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdańsk, an additional €2.5 million was announced to support Ukrainian culture and science.
