On this day, we remember the cultural heritage that the Russian Federation seized during the occupation of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol in 2014. Together with the Crimean Institute for Strategic Studies, we highlight which monuments have been destroyed under occupation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On March 17, 2014 \u2014 just one day before Russia\u2019s attempt to \u201clegalize\u201d its occupation under the guise of \u201creunification\u201d \u2014 illegally created separatist bodies in Sevastopol and Simferopol declared the appropriation<\/strong> of all property assets on the peninsula. This included museum collections, archives, libraries, and immovable heritage sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On May 21, 2014, all immovable monuments listed in Ukraine\u2019s national heritage register were unlawfully claimed by the occupation administrations. Over the next 10 years, museum officials and cultural authorities under occupation registered these sites as Russian property, often disregarding<\/strong> their historic value. UNESCO preservation standards were ignored at the Chersonesos Taurica site. At the same time, the national monument of the Bakhchysarai Palace underwent reconstruction that severely damaged the authenticity of key structures in the complex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over 200 archaeological sites have been severely damaged or destroyed by illegal excavations conducted as part of Russia\u2019s infrastructure projects in occupied Crimea. These include at least 80 burial mounds, more than 40 settlements and fortifications, and 20 burial grounds\u2014among them, unique archaeological complexes near the village of Otark\u00f6y (Frontove), the necropolis of Chersonesos Taurica, a cremation cemetery in Vranautka (Honcharne), and elite burial mounds along the lower Dzhardzhava River (Kerch Peninsula). The Russian occupation administration appropriated artifacts unearthed during these excavations. Dozens of sites seized by Russian troops\u2014including the Panske settlement and cemetery, Arabat Fortress, \u00a0Or Qapu Fortress, and the city of Or\u2014were destroyed without any archaeological surveys. These acts have erased invaluable layers of Crimean history that cannot be recovered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the most tragic examples is the B\u00fcy\u00fck Han Cami (Big Khan Mosque) in Bakhchysarai\u2014 the only surviving example of Crimean Tatar palace architecture and a key symbol of the Crimean Khanate. Built in 1532 by Khan Sahib I Geray, the mosque was part of the Bakhchysarai Palace complex and central to Crimean Tatar civilization. Russia\u2019s destruction of Crimean Tatar heritage began as early as the first annexation in 1783, when the palace was turned into military barracks and subjected to deliberate architectural and artistic degradation. After the 2014 occupation, Russia launched a so-called \u201crestoration\u201d of the Khan\u2019s Palace, which in reality has resulted in severe damage. The mosque suffered the most: the original hand-carved walnut ceiling was dismantled, a gilded leather ceiling panel was destroyed, and an antique wooden chandelier disappeared without a trace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These actions are not only violations of international law, but also an attempt to erase the cultural identity of the Crimean Tatar and Ukrainian peoples. It is our duty to preserve the memory of these unique monuments as an integral part of our history and heritage. The international community must intensify efforts to protect these sites, hold perpetrators accountable, and restore justice for the destruction and appropriation of cultural treasures.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":68583,"template":"","publication-type":[43],"class_list":["post-68594","press-center","type-press-center","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","publication-type-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n