Society & Culture

Russian invaders destroyed at least 59 buildings of spiritual significance in 8 regions of Ukraine, as the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine informs. On average, two religious buildings a day have been destroyed since February 24. These include an orthodox cathedral in Mariupol, a Jewish school in Kharkiv and dozens of parish churches destroyed throughout Ukraine. On March 7 alone, three monuments of Ukrainian culture were partially or completely destroyed: the Yelets Assumption Monastery in Chernihiv (1069), St. George’s Church in Zavorichi, Kyiv Oblast, (1873), and a 160-year-old wooden Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy…

Dozens of journalists have died in Ukraine at the hands of Russian invaders, and dozens are being held captive. This was announced by Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska on Facebook, Ukrinform reports. "Dozens of journalists have already died in Ukraine. Dozens of other Ukrainian media workers were abducted by the occupiers. I bow before the diligent people working in the press. Thank you for the facts you’ve been gathering risking your life. Please stay safe! Not only to be able to continue your work, but also to live!” the message reads. The president's spouse recalled that the invaders had killed…

A special gig "Unidos por la paz: Ucrania en el corazón" ("United for Peace: Ukraine in the Heart") in support of Ukraine will take place in Spain on April 6. That’s according to Ukraine’s public broadcaster UA:PBC, Ukrinform reports. "Spanish and Ukrainian musicians, including Eurovision contestants of different years, will gather on one stage with the sole purpose of raising funds to help Ukrainians affected by Russian aggression," the statement said. Read also: Sean Penn calls on private sector to buy fighter jets, air defense systems for Ukraine Among those set to perform are Vanesa Martín, Rozalén, Malú, Dvicio, Manuel…

The founder of the CORE Charity Foundation and internationally acclaimed actor and director Sean Penn called on billionaires around the world to join efforts to acquire fighter jets and air defense systems to hand them over to Ukraine. That’s according to the actor’s tweet, Ukrinform reports. "By open source, 2 squadrons of F-15’s or 16’s (that’s 12 aircraft with better tech than Russian Migs or SU’s) quickly trainable (3 weeks) to Ukrainian aviators would cost private sector buyers approx $300M. Add another $200M in missile defense for a total of $500M,” the actor said. Sean Penn has appealed to billionaires…

At least 53 cultural heritage sites have been damaged or partially destroyed since the start of Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to UNESCO. This was reported by l'Avenir, Ukrinform wrote. Among them are 29 religious sites, 16 historic buildings, four museums and four monuments, UNESCO Deputy Director-General for Culture Ernesto Ottone Ramirez said in Paris on Friday. One of Ukraine's worst-hit regions is Kharkiv, where Russian bombings have affected the Holocaust Memorial, the State Opera and Ballet Theater, and the Art Museum, Ottone Ramirez said. Read also: EU Culture Ministers call on UNESCO to move session of World Heritage…

In Melitopol, the town in southern Ukraine that is temporarily occupied by Russian forces, all school principals wrote resignation letters. This was announced by Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov during a live broadcast on Facebook, Ukrinform reports. "Today, a difficult but absolutely correct decision was made: all school principals, without exception, wrote resignation letters in a show of protest, unwilling to cooperate with the occupiers," Fedorov said. Read also: Ukrainian mobile networks, internet services down n Melitopol, Berdiansk He also asked Halyna Danylchenko, whom the invaders had been appointed "acting mayor," not to make local children a "human shield" or hold…

Since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, more than 510,000 Ukrainian citizens have returned to their home country. More than three-quarters of them are men. That’s according to Andriy Demchenko, a spokesman for the State Border Guard Service, who spoke with Ukrinform. "In total, more than 510,000 Ukrainian citizens have crossed in since February 24. Most of them, about 75-80%, are men," the spokesman said. It was reported that from February 24 to March 24, a total of nearly 3.2 million people crossed the Ukrainian border in both directions. Read also: Part of Russian units pulls out of Ukraine…

In the exclusion zone near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, 31 fires were detected on a total area of 10,111 hectares, and radioactive contamination is increasing. "As a result of hostilities and the burning of forests and bogs of the exclusion zone by the Russian invaiders , the level of radioactive air pollution is increasing." "At present, satellite data indicate the occurrence of 31 outbreaks of large fires in natural ecosystems and abandoned villages of the exclusion zone, amounting to a total area of more than 10,111 hectares." The Ministry noted that fires in the exclusion zone have large radiological…

The head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan Epifaniy, says dozens of parishes and a number of monasteries have already joined the OCU, having quit the Moscow Patriarchate. The OCU Primate announced this on Twitter, according to Ukrinform. "Dozens of communities, a number of monasteries in different regions of Ukraine have already voluntarily and consciously fulfilled their canonical duty and followed the Tomos of autocephaly, choosing the church and Ukraine," Epifaniy said. The top cleric has added that the OCU doors are open to everyone. Read also: Russian troops damage at least 59 spiritual sites – Zelensky At the…