The Ministry of Culture and Information Policy once again calls to revoke Russia's membership in UNESCO after the shelling of the center of Chernihiv.

"As a result of an enemy missile hit, the Chernihiv Regional Academic Music and Drama Theater named after Taras Shevchenko, an architectural monument of local importance, was completely destroyed. The architectural monument of national importance, the Pyatnitska Church, which falls under the responsibility of the National Architectural and Historical Reserve Ancient Chernihiv, was also damaged," the ministry said in a press release.

The historic center of Chernihiv is a candidate for nomination to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Ukraine has submitted to the Preliminary Nomination List the XI century Transfiguration Cathedral and the XII century Church of Saints Borys and Hlib.

The Ministry of Culture said that in 2023, the ministry, together with the regional and city administrations, began work on including the cultural landscape of Chernihiv in the List of Cultural Heritage in Danger.

"Russia, as a terrorist country, is systematically destroying Ukraine's cultural heritage, causing irreparable damage not only to Ukrainian but also to world culture. Once again, we call on the international community to isolate the aggressor and finally revoke Russia's membership in UNESCO," the ministry said.