On November 27-28, an international conference titled "Cultural Heritage Protection During War: New Challenges and Responses" was held in Kyiv.

At the opening, Anastasia Bondar, Deputy Minister of Culture, emphasized the need to update international protection mechanisms for cultural heritage in wartime. She highlighted that Ukrainian specialists face new threats, ranging from invisible damage to cumulative deformations that may appear over time.

"Today, Ukraine is experiencing an unprecedented war that reveals gaps in the existing mechanisms for cultural heritage protection," she noted.

Bondar called on the international community to initiate a discussion on new approaches to protecting cultural heritage:

"Is it not time to discuss the necessity of creating new protocols for the protection of cultural heritage based on Ukraine's experience? How can we enhance international protection mechanisms in the context of modern warfare?"

One of the central examples at the conference was the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, a unique cultural heritage site.

Svitlana Kotliarevska, acting director of the reserve, pointed out that Ukraine could become a leader in shaping new international standards for cultural heritage protection.

"We aim to develop a new model for heritage protection and implement revitalization programs for cultural monuments," she added.

The conference also addressed other UNESCO World Heritage sites, such as:

• St. George's Cathedral in Lviv;
• Historical center of Odesa;
• Residence of the Metropolitans in Chernivtsi.

Experts evaluated the extent of damage to these sites and discussed risks to their preservation.

Discussions also focused on documenting destruction and digital technologies for preserving monuments in crisis situations. Participants considered opportunities for international support.

Following the conference, organizers will prepare recommendations for Ukrainian and international institutions, which will serve as a basis for new cultural heritage support programs.