UNESCO Director-General visits Ukraine
UNESCO reaffirms its support for the country’s culture, heritage and long-term recovery
August 28th, 2026
UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany visited Ukraine on 14–15 August, 2026, making his first official visit to the country since taking office. In Kyiv, he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and senior Ukrainian officials to discuss UNESCO’s cooperation with Ukraine in education, culture, science, communication and information. The visit also focused on the protection of the country’s cultural heritage, including the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, one of Ukraine’s most important historical and spiritual landmarks. UNESCO has mobilised US$79 million for Ukraine’s recovery since February 2022, making the country its largest crisis response worldwide.
During the visit, El-Enany attended celebrations marking the 975th anniversary of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, part of the UNESCO World Heritage property "Kyiv: Saint-Sophia Cathedral and Related Monastic Buildings, Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra." The site has been on UNESCO’s List of World Heritage in Danger since 2023. UNESCO has been working with Ukrainian experts and international partners to assess damage to the site following attacks in June 2026.
UNESCO also announced new financial support for the Lavra. The organisation is providing US$100,000 through its Heritage Emergency Fund for urgent stabilisation measures at the Dormition Cathedral. At the same time, Switzerland is providing US$732,000 through UNESCO to support the preparation of plans for the reconstruction of the cathedral’s permanent roof and emergency consolidation works. A 3D laser scan and digital survey, funded by Japan, is also being carried out to help plan future conservation and reconstruction.
The visit demonstrates UNESCO’s broader role in Ukraine during the war. Alongside protecting cultural heritage, the organisation is supporting areas including education, the safety of journalists, digital learning, psychosocial assistance and the continuity of work for cultural professionals, researchers and scientists. UNESCO says its emergency measures are intended not only to address immediate needs but also to contribute to Ukraine’s long-term recovery and reconstruction.
El-Enany’s visit therefore underlined that cultural heritage remains an important part of international cooperation during conflict. For UNESCO, protecting sites such as the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra means preserving places that carry historical and cultural significance for Ukraine while also safeguarding heritage considered important to humanity as a whole.
