In the near future, UNESCO will send a mission to Odesa to conduct a preliminary assessment of the damage caused to cultural sites as a result of a night attack by Russian occupiers, according to the organization's press release, published on Sunday, July 23.

"UNESCO is deeply dismayed and condemns in the strongest terms the brazen attack carried out by the Russian forces, which hit several cultural sites in the city center of Odesa, home to the World Heritage property 'The Historic Centre of Odesa," according to the statement.

UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said "this outrageous destruction marks an escalation of violence against cultural heritage of Ukraine."

She also called on Russia "to take meaningful action to comply with its obligations under international law, including the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and the 1972 World Heritage Convention."