Ukraine military issues handbook on cultural property protection

Ukraine's military has published a handbook on protecting cultural values during armed conflict, posted on the Na Zviazku website on June 23. Co-authored by Andrii Lutsyk and Yaroslava Sementsova from the Regional Center for Human Rights, and lead author Denys Grechko, a major in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the guide aims to make international humanitarian law accessible to officers. It covers the 1954 Hague Convention, identification of cultural treasures, and evacuation procedures. Illustrated with examples of Russian-seized art and destroyed sites, the handbook seeks to foster emotional connection to heritage. Grechko's unit marked 58 cultural items with Blue Shield emblems and evacuated 44 Polovtsian statues to Dnipro. Digital mapping of sites is integrated into the Delta system. The handbook was adapted from Ukraine's war experience, noting gaps in UNESCO, NATO, and ICOM recommendations. Recent strikes include damage to Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and Mystetskyi Arsenal on June 15, and Kharkiv Art Museum on June 14.