Denmark Supports the Restoration of Ukrainian Culture
Denmark has announced a contribution of 1.3 million euros to support the restoration of Ukrainian cultural heritage that has been affected by Russia's invasion. This was reported by the press service of the Danish presidency in the EU Council.
The funding will be allocated through the newly established Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Fund and can be used for the restoration of damaged buildings, monuments, and museums.
The initiative was presented during an informal meeting of European culture ministers. The main goal of the event is to encourage other countries to follow Denmark's example and contribute to the support of Ukrainian culture.
"I am proud that Denmark is once again taking the lead in restoring Ukraine's cultural heritage. Cultural heritage is vital for the national identity and self-awareness of the Ukrainian people. I sincerely hope that my European colleagues will follow our path, as the war in Ukraine is not only fought on the battlefield — it is also about the right of Ukrainians to preserve their culture, language, and connection to the values and places that shape their nation," said Danish Minister of Culture Jakob Engel-Schmidt.
Ukrainian Minister of Culture Tetiana Berezhna also noted that Russia is deliberately destroying Ukrainian culture and its symbols — to date, over 1,600 cultural heritage sites have been damaged, with 27 completely destroyed.
She emphasized that to overcome these losses, Ukraine is creating a Cultural Heritage Fund that will unite the resources of governments, international organizations, and experts to preserve and restore national culture.
Denmark will also provide 1.1 billion Danish kroner for a new military aid package for Ukraine, which includes support for the Navy, tank servicing, and training programs for Ukrainian military personnel.