The Claim:
Russia’s Minsiter of Foreign Affairs, Sergei Lavrov has falsely claimed that Russia is not targeting cultural sites in Ukraine with its missiles, bombs and kamikaze Iranian terror drones. He also falsely accused the Western world of attempting “to politicize UNESCO’s activities.”
Narrative Context:
The Russian government and its supporters regularly deny Russia’s criminal activity in terms of its invasion of Ukraine. In fact, Russia’s president has repeatedly denied any responsibility for the war and repeatedly blames the West and Ukraine – falsely claiming that Russia’s criminal war is a “special operation” to de-Nazify Ukraine.
The Facts:
According to UNESCO “as of 10 January 2024, UNESCO has verified damage to 337 sites since 24 February 2022 – 126 religious sites, 148 buildings of historical and/or artistic interest, 30 museums, 19 monuments, 13 libraries, 1 archive.”
