Odesa historic center added to UNESCO's World Heritage List

A UNESCO committee voted to inscribe the Ukraine port of Odesa's historic center as a world heritage site, hoping to protect it against more damage from Russia's war.

The 6-1 vote, with 14 abstentions, in UNESCO's 21-nation World Heritage Committee on Wednesday overcame Russia's efforts to put off the vote. The Paris-based U.N. body cited the Black Sea port city's cultural value and humanity's duty to protect it.

"Odesa, a free city, a world city, a legendary port that has left its mark on cinema, literature and the arts, is thus placed under the reinforced protection of the international community," UNESCO's Director General Audrey Azoulay said.

"While the war continues," she said, "this inscription embodies our collective determination to ensure that this city, which has always surmounted global upheavals, is preserved from further destruction."

UNESCO said the committee used an emergency procedure to approve the city's inscription because of threats to it since the beginning of the war. Parts of Odesa's Museum of Fine Arts, including its glass roof and windows, were damaged last summer.

In October, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged UNESCO to put Odesa on its World Heritage List to protect it from Russian air strikes.

"The historic center of the port city of Odesa is not only included in the World Heritage List, but also recognized as a cultural heritage site in danger," Zelenskyy said. "I’m grateful to partners who help protect our pearl from the Russian invaders' attacks!"

Odesa also added to UNESCO's danger list

Russian bombs have fallen on the city, often called "the pearl of the Black Sea," several times since Russia's Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine last year.

Ukrainians have been trying to protect the city's buildings and monuments with sandbags, barricades and other tools.

The listing means 194 nations that are party to the 1975 World Heritage Convention must commit to not deliberately cause direct or indirect damage to Odesa, and to help protect it.

The list comprises 1,157 sites that are considered to have exceptional universal value in three categories: cultural, natural and mixed.

UNESCO also added Odesa's historic center to its World Heritage in Danger list, giving it access to reinforced technical and financial international assistance.

Ukraine can now ask for such aid to ensure the historic center is protected and, if necessary, to get help with rehabilitation.