Ukraine: Ukraine has been elected to the UNESCO Executive Board for the 2025-2029 term with the highest number of votes, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Friday.

According to Anadolu Agency, Zelenskyy shared the news on Telegram, highlighting that alongside Romania and Moldova, Ukraine surpassed Russia in the election. Moscow, for the second consecutive term, lost its bid and will not be part of the Council. Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to the member states that supported Ukraine's candidacy.

He further stated that Ukraine, with its partners, intends to leverage the opportunities provided by UNESCO to restore life and protect its culture, heritage, and people. Zelenskyy emphasized that all forms of Russian aggression, including war and hybrid threats, would be adequately countered, reiterating the necessity for peace and urging Moscow to acknowledge this.

In related developments, UNESCO's Executive Board decided to continue its monitoring of the situation in Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014. The Czech delegation, representing 44 UNESCO member states, condemned Russia's actions in the region, citing alleged persecution of Crimean Tatars, the erosion of Ukrainian-language education, and the destruction of cultural and environmental sites.

Ukraine's permanent representative to UNESCO, Vadym Omelchenko, underscored the importance of maintaining international focus on Crimea. He called for continued monitoring under UNESCO's mandate to address violations of international law.