Russia's “Restoration” of Khan's Palace in Crimea Causes Irreparable Damage to Cultural Heritage

Russian forces in the temporarily occupied Crimean peninsula are continuing to destroy the Khan's Palace in Bakhchisarai under the guise of “restoration.”

This was reported by the Crimean Tatar Resource Center (CTRC) on March 19.

“CTRC has learned that the so-called restoration of the Khan's Palace in the temporarily occupied Bakhchisarai is still ongoing. Based on available information and photographic materials, Russian occupiers are carrying out works that have nothing to do with restoration but are, in fact, leading to the destruction of this unique historical monument of the indigenous Crimean Tatar people,” the report states.

The CTRC also noted that the work is being carried out with gross violations of restoration standards and technologies, which has already resulted in significant damage to the buildings within the complex, including structural deformations that are now being propped up with temporary supports.

“In addition, the occupiers continue illegal archaeological excavations on the palace grounds. According to preliminary reports, dozens, if not hundreds of thousands, of artifacts were discovered during these unauthorized excavations. Meanwhile, these findings are being kept in inadequate conditions, with a significant portion being exported from the peninsula, including abroad, where they are used for exhibition purposes,” the center added.

The KRC emphasized that such actions are not only gross violations of international humanitarian law but also part of a deliberate policy to destroy the cultural heritage of the indigenous Crimean Tatar people.

The Khan's Palace, a unique 16th-century monument and the only surviving example of Crimean Tatar palace architecture in the world, is included on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, 1,685 cultural heritage sites and 2,483 cultural infrastructure facilities have been either damaged or destroyed, according to the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine.

The ministry also shared the toll the war has taken on the cultural sector, stating, “The war has taken the lives of 346 artists and 132 Ukrainian and foreign media professionals. Each loss represents a lost piece of our cultural memory.”

Financially, direct damage to Ukraine's cultural sector is estimated at $4.2 billion, while total losses, including lost revenue, have surpassed $31 billion.

Over the course of the conflict, 507 cultural sites have been completely destroyed, and Russia has also looted 35,482 museum artifacts. More than 1.7 million items remain in temporarily occupied areas, putting them at risk of further destruction.

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Culture

Ukraine Is Rescuing Its Ancient Ancestors, the "Stone Babas," From the Frontline

Nov 18, 2025 11:52

In a bid to preserve Ukraine's cultural heritage, soldiers from the 128th Separate Heavy Mechanized Brigade “Dyke Pole” of the Ukrainian Ground Forces successfully rescued unique 12th-century stone monuments, known as “stone babas,” from the frontline town of Novomykolaivka in the Zaporizhzhia region.

The operation was launched after military personnel discovered that several buildings near the local museum had already been destroyed by Russian guided aerial bombs, putting the historical artifacts at significant risk of being lost forever.

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