Ukraine's cultural heritage defenders protect monuments from Russian attack

 

Statues wrapped in protective materials stand in Lviv's old quarter in western Ukraine. Officials are taking precautions to protect statues from being destroyed in Russian attacks.

 

"Liliya Onyschenko is standing in a 16th century cobblestone square, bracing herself against the cold, scrolling through bad news on her phone — and cursing Russian President Vladimir Putin.

A 19th century wooden church flattened in northern Ukraine. A folk museum shelled. A library with rare books destroyed. Onyschenko rattles off a list of Ukrainian sites damaged by Russian attacks. On top of the human losses across her country, the list makes Onyschenko really angry.
Sisters flee Kyiv as they struggle to stay in touch with family in Mariupol
The Picture Show
Sisters flee Kyiv as they struggle to stay in touch with family in Mariupol

"I've devoted my life to protecting these monuments," says Onyschenko, who is the head of historical preservation in Lviv, the biggest city in western Ukraine."

Read the newstory by Lauren Frayer​

Ukraine's cultural heritage defenders protect monuments from Russian attack : The Picture Show : NPR