Ukraine Urges Venice Biennale to Exclude Russia Following Drone Attack on UNESCO Site
A Ukrainian official has called for Russia to be barred from the Venice Biennale after a Russian drone strike damaged a UNESCO-listed monastery in Lviv. The March 24 attack targeted the historic city center, harming a 17th-century Bernardine monastery. UNESCO expressed alarm, noting the site is protected under international conventions. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha criticized the Biennale's organizers for planning to include a Russian pavilion for the first time since the war began, while the European Union has threatened to withdraw funding. The strike was part of a large-scale aerial assault involving nearly 1,000 drones across Ukraine, resulting in casualties and extensive damage to cultural heritage.
Key facts
- A Russian drone strike on March 24 damaged a 17th-century Bernardine monastery in Lviv's UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called for Russia to be banned from the upcoming Venice Biennale due to the attack.
- UNESCO condemned the strike, citing protections under the 1954 Hague Convention and 1972 World Heritage Convention.
- The Venice Biennale is planning to host a Russian pavilion for the first time since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022.
- The European Union has threatened to pull funding from the Biennale if the Russian pavilion proceeds.
Entities
Institutions
- UNESCO
- Venice Biennale
- European Union
Locations
- Lviv
- Ukraine
- Russia
- Venice
Sources
- ARTnews —