Paris, Feb 13 (AP) Ukraine will need nearly USD 9 billion over the next decade to rebuild its cultural sites and tourism industry following Russia's invasion and war, the United Nations' cultural agency said Tuesday.

UNESCO estimated that the country's interlinked culture and tourism sector have lost over USD 19 billion in revenue during the war that started two years ago this month.

Also Read | It's Time to Hail India-UAE Friendship, Says PM Narendra Modi at 'Ahlan Modi' Event at Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi (Watch Video).

The agency said the fighting has damaged 341 cultural sites across Ukraine at a cost of USD 3.5 billion, including in Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, and the cities of Lviv in the west and Odesa in the south.

“The cathedral of Odesa is one example of a site that was gravely damaged,” Chiara Dezzi Bardeschi, who heads the UNESCO office in Ukraine, said.

Also Read | Wealthy Europe is Working Less -- Can Countries Change That?.

”It's a symbol of all the community… with deep spiritual and historical meaning.”

In July 2023, UNESCO strongly condemned a “brazen attack carried out by the Russian forces” against historic buildings in the center of Odesa, an area the agency designated last year as an endangered world heritage site.

The attack claimed at least two lives and damaged several sites, including the 18th century Transfiguration Cathedral, the main Orthodox church in Odesa.

UNESCO said the intentional destruction of cultural heritage sites, including religious buildings and artifacts, may amount to a war crime. The International Criminal Court first brought war crimes charges involving purposeful attacks on historic religious monuments and buildings in a case involving Mali in 2015. (AP)

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)