A Russian drone attack has damaged part of Lviv’s UNESCO-listed historic centre, bringing fresh concern over the war’s threat to cultural heritage in western Ukraine.
The strike hit the area of the Bernardine monastery complex on 24 March during a rare daytime assault, with Ukrainian officials saying at least two people were injured and historic buildings were damaged.
The attack formed part of one of the largest recent aerial barrages on Ukraine, with Reuters reporting that Russia launched hundreds of drones in waves across the country. UNESCO said it was deeply alarmed by the strike on the World Heritage property known as “L’viv – the Ensemble of the Historic Centre”, adding that the site had already been placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2023.
Lviv, near Ukraine’s border with Poland, is better known to many travellers for its preserved old town, churches and grand squares than for front-line destruction. The city’s historic centre was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998 for its mix of architectural and cultural influences and its largely intact medieval urban fabric.
Ukrainian officials said the 24 March strike damaged a building in the area of the Bernardine monastery complex, part of the protected heritage zone. Reuters reported that the attack was unusual because it took place in daylight and struck a busy area of the city centre.
The wider barrage underscored the growing reach of attacks far from the front lines. Reuters said the assault on 24 March involved more than 550 drones during the day after overnight strikes, with the total number launched since Monday evening nearing 1,000.
UNESCO said the latest damage highlights the continuing vulnerability of cultural landmarks in Ukraine. The agency said it is working with national authorities and partners to assess the impact and support efforts to protect the site.
The strike is likely to deepen fears over the safety of heritage tourism in Ukraine, even in cities that have often been seen as relatively less exposed than the country’s east and south. For Lviv, whose historic core has remained a symbol of resilience throughout the war, the damage marks another blow to one of Europe’s most important cultural cityscapes.
It is not yet clear how quickly repairs can begin or how extensive the structural damage will prove to be. But the attack has already renewed international attention on the risks facing historic sites as the war continues.
