Ukrainian heritage fund takes shape as war enters fifth year

On 23 February 2026, The Art Newspaper detailed the development of a new Ukraine Cultural Heritage Fund as Russia’s full-scale invasion approaches its fifth year. Announced at the fourth Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome in July 2025, the fund is designed as a multi-donor platform to support protection and restoration of war-damaged culture, complementing efforts by Unesco, Aliph, the World Monuments Fund, ICCROM, and Obmin. Ukraine’s culture ministry said that as of November, 1,630 cultural heritage sites and 2,437 cultural infrastructure facilities had been destroyed or damaged, while Unesco’s December 2024 assessment estimated recovery needs at $4.1 billion (including $3 billion for historic cities, buildings, and sites). Denmark, the Netherlands, and the UK pledged DKK 10 million (£1.2 million), €1 million, and £200,000 respectively, and the fund has identified 13 initial restoration projects and mobilised €3.5 million so far.

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