UKRAINE, Jul 29 — As of July 21, Russian forces have destroyed and damaged 1,528 cultural heritage sites and 2,359 cultural infrastructure facilities in Ukraine, reported the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine (MCSC).

Russian forces continue to attack civilian infrastructure and people. Over the past day, they killed 22 and injured 85 people in Ukraine — 73 cities and villages in the country came under Russian strikes.

During attacks like these, the Russians often destroy or damage Ukrainian cultural heritage sites. Over the last three and a half years, Russia destroyed or damaged 147 sites with national significance and 1,267 — with local, and 114 sites that have been discovered recently and have not yet been included in the general register.

In total, MCSC recorded damage to cultural sites in 18 regions. The largest number of them were in Kharkiv (336), Kherson (289), Odesa (179), Donetsk (173), and Kyiv (111) Oblasts.

At the same time, Russia damaged 2,359 cultural infrastructure facilities, including 1,147 clubs, 839 libraries, 180 institutions for art education, and many others.

Almost the entire territory of Luhansk and significant parts of Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Kherson regions are under temporary Russian occupation. MCSC said that it is impossible to accurately calculate the number of cultural institutions affected by the hostilities and occupation.

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