Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine three years ago, the ongoing heavy drone strikes and missile attacks have resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians and the displacement of many more. Alongside the loss of life and destruction of civilian infrastructure, Russia has also targeted numerous valuable Ukrainian cultural and natural heritage sites.
With the presidency of Donald Trump posing new challenges for Ukraine, there are concerns about a shift away from preservation efforts that were previously supported by the Biden administration, such as the Ukraine Cultural Heritage Response Initiative by the State Department.
According to a recent list published by UNESCO, at least 476 landmarks in Ukraine have suffered damage since February 2022, including archaeological sites, religious buildings, museums, monuments, libraries, and archives. One such site is the Kyiv Teacher’s House, which was included in the World Monument Fund’s 2025 watch list of threatened cultural heritage.
Considered a historic symbol of Ukrainian independence, the former parliament building faced damage to its doors, windows, and glass-paneled dome due to a rocket blast in October 2022. Despite the damage, repairs were completed by the WMF, supported by the US State Department Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation and Kyiv City Administration.
Ukraine’s Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications, Mykola Tochytskyi, highlighted in an October assembly meeting for the Council of Europe that the widespread destruction of Ukrainian culture is part of Russia’s systematic plan to rewrite history.
Despite the efforts of organizations like WMF, the recent federal funding freeze imposed by Trump has cast uncertainty over the future of vital programs like the Ukrainian Heritage Digitization and Dissemination Initiative (UHDDI), which aims to preserve Ukrainian cultural artifacts through digitization of collections.
The UHDDI, launched by CyArk and Archaic in 2023, is currently dependent on US interest to continue its operations. Simon Radchenko, Archaic’s co-founder and UHDDI project coordinator, mentioned that collaboration with other international institutions is being considered to sustain the initiative.
Other Ukrainian heritage preservation programs, like the Conflict Observatory Ukraine funded by the State Department, have also been impacted by the freeze. The program, which documents the impact of Russia’s war on Ukrainian cultural and natural heritage, has faced disruptions in its operations.
Furthermore, the potential peace agreement discussions centered around Russia’s interests, as highlighted by Trump, have raised concerns among international officials. The de-prioritization of investigating alleged atrocities in Ukraine amid the federal funding freeze has drawn criticism.
As federal programs face uncertainty, the cultural heritage work of NGOs and civil society groups like WMF and UIA becomes increasingly crucial. The reduction of US support for cultural preservation initiatives threatens not only physical monuments and artifacts but also broader efforts to safeguard Ukraine’s cultural legacy.
As nongovernmental organizations continue their work, the federal funding freeze sends a concerning message to conflict zones that protecting art, religious freedom, literature, architecture, and historic sites may no longer be a priority for the US.
As the situation unfolds, organizations like WMF are seeking support from other institutions and donors to continue their efforts in Ukraine despite the challenges posed by the funding freeze.
