In a surprise development, the United Nations’ cultural agency has decided to add the historic centre of Ukraine’s Black Sea port city of Odessa to its list of World Heritage sites. This has been done to recognise the outstanding universal value of the site and the duty of all humanity to protect it, as the city faces the threat of destruction.
If reports are to go by, the 21 member states of UNESCO’s world heritage committee approved the decision with six votes in favour, one against, and 14 abstentions.
