In October, 45 new cases of destruction of monuments and cultural institutions were recorded
As of the end of October 2026, 2185 cultural heritage sites and 2686 cultural institutions have been damaged in Ukraine due to hostilities. Over the last month, the number of damaged or destroyed monuments and institutions increased by 45 units. This is reported by the portal PromPolitInform, citing information from the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine.
Among the cultural heritage sites that have suffered destruction, 199 hold the status of national significance, and 1781 are of local significance. Another 205 objects belong to the category of newly discovered, with 48 monuments already completely destroyed by Russian shelling.
The highest number of damages was recorded in the Donetsk (369), Kharkiv (355), and Kherson (308) regions, as well as in Kyiv (292) and the Odesa region (215). During October, new hits occurred in eight regions, including the capital, where the enemy continues to strike objects that had already been damaged previously.
Status of monuments and cultural institutions
“Russia continues to attack Ukrainian monuments, including those that have already suffered destruction. After each strike, specialists inspect the buildings again, record the damages, and determine urgent measures for their preservation,” noted Tetyana Berezhna.
She emphasized that ahead of winter, it is critically important to protect damaged roofs and windows from moisture and low temperatures, which requires additional resources and partner support. Monuments of UNESCO World Heritage are under special monitoring, particularly those located in the historic center of Odesa, where new damages were recorded in October.
Impact on cultural infrastructure
The total number of affected cultural institutions reached 2686, of which 572 were completely destroyed. Club facilities (1336), libraries (923), and art education institutions (200) suffered the most.
Furthermore, Russian aggression affected 142 museums, 57 theaters and philharmonics, 15 parks and zoos, nine nature reserves, three circuses, and one film studio. Statistics compiled by the Ministry of Culture include data from regional military administrations, though recording on occupied territories remains partial due to lack of access.
Photo: Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine
