UNESCO, the Ministry of Culture and the National Preserve ‘Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra' sign a Memorandum of Cooperation to safeguard World Heritage in Ukraine

On February 27, UNESCO, the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, and the National Preserve ‘Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra’ formalised a trilateral partnership to support the preservation of the All Saints Church, located above the Economic Gate and forming part of the World Heritage property “Kyiv: Saint-Sophia Cathedral and Related Monastic Buildings, Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.”

Since the beginning of the war, targeted assistance has been directed to this World Heritage property in line with priority needs identified by the Ministry of Culture since 2023. This renewed cooperation builds on activities initially launched with the generous support of the Government of Japan. Efforts to date have include technical assistance to strengthen emergency preparedness and first aid responses, broader risk reduction strategies; advanced training on documentation methods, and the provision of equipment and software to reinforce documentation and data management capacities for the teams responsible for the site’s conservation and management.

“The signing of today’s Memorandum with UNESCO is an important step toward preserving our cultural heritage of global significance. We thank UNESCO for its comprehensive support and readiness to cooperate on this important initiative. The joint work of the State and an international organization will enable comprehensive research to be carried out, the preparation of scientific and project documentation, and the identification of priority works for the restoration of the Church of All Saints above the Economic Gate. Such cooperation will ensure the long-term preservation of Ukraine’s historic monuments,”

said Deputy Minister of Culture of Ukraine Ivan Verbytskyi.

Most recently, structural health monitoring equipment has been delivered to the All Saints Church, as well as to the Saint-Sophia Cathedral and its Bell Tower, to assist professionals in monitoring the stability of these buildings. This has become increasingly critical due to the heightened vibrations caused by recurrent missile and drone attacks on Kyiv.

The new partnership will support in-depth scientific research, the preparation of essential technical documentation, and the identification of priority interventions for the restoration of the All Saints Church. With UNESCO’s support, Ukrainian specialists are finalising a comprehensive assessment of the architectural condition of the Church and its exceptional mural paintings.

“War is not fought only on the battlefield — it is also waged over culture, memory, and the future of society. The  All Saints Church was built between 1696 and 1698 by Ivan Mazepa and stands as a testament of one of the most significant of the Ukrainian Baroque period. That is why its preservation, and the safeguarding of heritage connected to outstanding figures of Ukrainian history and art, is one of the key dimensions of our struggle to affirm national dignity,”

said Maksym Ostapenko, Director General of the Preserve.

The church combines spiritual, architectural and defensive functions within the monastic complex. Its richly ornamented façades and multi‑tiered 18th‑century carved wooden iconostasis reflect the craftsmanship and artistic refinement of the period. The interior features an extensive programme of mural paintings created by artists of the Lavra art school, with major work carried out in 1906 under the direction of Ivan Yizhakevych. These interventions combined the restoration of earlier compositions with newly created decorative scenes, resulting in a unique layering of artistic expression spanning several centuries.

The findings of the studies will inform the development of a detailed restoration programme, including the prioritisation of conservation measures and an estimation of the resources required to safeguard this unique monument. UNESCO is actively mobilising financial support to enable the most urgent conservation interventions.

"Safeguarding World Heritage is a shared responsibility of humanity. In times of war, threats extend far beyond physical damage, and heritage professionals face daily challenges in protecting, maintaining and restoring sites with severely limited resources. Strengthening cooperation among key actors is therefore vital, helping to lay the groundwork for future recovery efforts that must be prepared now. UNESCO stands as a strong advocate for this collective commitment and for doing everything possible to preserve World Heritage properties in Ukraine"

Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of the World Heritage Centre, UNESCO.

UNESCO recalls that the value of World Heritage properties transcends national boundaries and is of shared importance for present and future generations. The Organisation remains committed to supporting Ukraine’s efforts to safeguard its cultural heritage.

Explore UNESCO’s efforts in Ukraine. Click here.