The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has included the Crimean…
The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has included the Crimean Heracleion Tavricum Nature Reserve and its chor (agricultural lands belonging to the polis) on the List of World Heritage in Danger. This is the only such object located within Crimea.
Consensus
- UNESCO has included Khersones Taurica and its horae (agricultural lands) in the List of World Heritage in Danger.
- The decision was made during a session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Pusan, South Korea, from July 19 to 29.
- Russia conducted construction and excavation activities at Khersones Taurica without authorization from Ukrainian authorities.
- These actions have caused significant loss of authenticity and integrity of the monument.
- UNESCO urged Russia to refrain from any further damaging activities at Khersones Taurica, its buffer zone, and surrounding historical environment.
- Khersones Taurica is the only site in Crimea inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List.
- Ukraine has been actively advocating for this listing and supports using international mechanisms to protect cultural heritage in temporarily occupied territories.
Points of divergence
- Russia claims that Ukrainian drone strikes pose the greatest threat to the site, citing debris from drones found there. — novaya_eu
- The Russian Ministry of Defense built a museum and temple complex called 'New Khersones' near the ruins in 2024 on land containing ancient Greek temples and burial sites; journalists reported it was a personal project of Vladimir Putin. — novaya_eu
- A Russian archaeologist, Alexander Butyagin, was detained in Poland in December 2025 for participating in excavations at Khersones Taurica and charged with intentional illegal partial destruction of a national cultural heritage site; he was returned to Russia in April 2026 via prisoner exchange. — meduza
- Butyagin stated after his return that he did not consider participation in the excavations a crime. — meduza
Coverage (2 sources)
- UNESCO adds Crimean Chersonesus to the List of World Heritage in Danger due to Russian actions — Новая газета Европа
- UNESCO adds the 'Chersonese of Tauris' Nature Reserve in annexed Crimea to the list of World Heritage Sites under threat — Meduza