UNESCO announced new contributions to support Ukraine's reconstruction and long-term resilience at the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC) 2026 in Gdansk, Poland, on 26 June 2026. The European Union will provide an additional EUR 2 million to expand efforts safeguarding Ukraine's documentary heritage and ensuring digital and inclusive access to information. Flanders is contributing over EUR 525,000 to strengthen Ukraine's scientific sector through remote access to laboratories, research continuity support, upgraded marine monitoring equipment, and policy coordination.
The EU-funded initiative builds on a previous project launched in February 2025 that focused on preserving Ukraine's Jewish documentary heritage. The expanded scope will now support documentary heritage across Ukraine, including that of national minorities. Activities include strengthening emergency preparedness and stabilization capacities of memory institutions, protecting documentary collections from war-related risks, developing sustainable digitization and digital preservation systems, and enhancing professional capacities in line with international standards. The initiative will be implemented with the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, the State Archival Service of Ukraine, memory institutions, academic partners, and civil society organizations.
On the scientific side, UNESCO studies have identified damage or destruction to 1,443 buildings from 177 scientific institutions, with at least 30% of research infrastructure lost since 2022. The new two-year initiative supported by Flanders will expand UNESCO's Remote Access to Laboratory Equipment initiative (UNESRALE), enabling Ukrainian researchers to work remotely via international research infrastructure. At least 55 researchers will receive support for remote access and training, while at least 15 will benefit from short-term scientific visits to laboratories, including through cooperation with Flemish research institutions. The initiative will also upgrade at least two marine water monitoring laboratories to address war-related damage and strengthen environmental monitoring and climate resilience. Overall, the initiative is expected to directly reach at least 155 individuals from more than 100 universities and research institutions.
Chiara Dezzi Bardeschi, Head of the UNESCO Antenna in Ukraine, stated that Ukraine's recovery is rooted in the strength of its people, knowledge, and cultural memory. Tetyana Berezhna, Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy and Minister of Culture of Ukraine, thanked partners for supporting both documentary heritage and the scientific community. Denys Kurbatov, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, emphasized the importance of keeping Ukrainian science integrated into the international community. Matthias Diependaele, Minister-President of Flanders, noted that the initiative offers immediate support to researchers and contributes to Ukraine's long-term reconstruction.
The announcement at URC 2026 underscores the EU's continued commitment to Ukraine's recovery, focusing on cultural preservation and scientific resilience as pillars for long-term reconstruction.