Denmark to donate more than €1 million to restore cultural centres, museums and monuments in Ukraine

Denmark donates €1.3 million to restore Ukraine's cultural heritage. Illustrative photo: NikVesti

The Danish government has announced the allocation of more than one million euros to the newly created Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Fund, which will support the restoration of cultural sites destroyed by Russian aggression.

This is stated in the press service of the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU.

«The grant of 1.3 million euros (10 million Danish kroner) will be funded by Danish development assistance as part of its civilian support to Ukraine», the statement said.

It is noted that the funds can be sent after the adoption of the relevant law on financing by the Danish Parliament.

The funds will be used to restore cultural buildings, monuments and museums damaged by Russian shelling.

Danish Minister of Culture Jakob Engel-Schmidt stressed that his country is taking the lead in restoring Ukraine's cultural heritage.

«Denmark is once again taking the lead in contributing to the restoration of Ukraine's cultural heritage. The cultural heritage plays a vital role in the national identity and self-awareness of the Ukrainian people. I sincerely hope that my European colleagues will follow suit, because the war in Ukraine is not only about the battlefield, but also about the right of the Ukrainian people to preserve their culture, their language and their connection to the values and places that define their nation,» said Jacob Engel-Schmidt.

Tetiana Berezhna, Vice Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy and Minister of Culture of Ukraine, thanked the Danish partners for their support and the opportunity to present the Foundation, noting that Russian aggression has become one of the largest cases of cultural devastation in Europe since the Second World War.

«Addressing this problem requires innovative solutions and focused efforts within a special structure. That is why we are creating the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Fund. The Fund combines the resources of governments, international organisations, experts and partners to not only preserve our cultural heritage but also ensure the sustainable development of culture as the basis of Ukraine's identity and sustainability,» said Tetiana Berezhna.

Earlier it was reported that a regional representative of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation will soon appear in Odesa region to help local artists, cultural institutions and NGOs.