Kyiv, 10 February 2026 – UNESCO has today announced a new US$3.8 million contribution from Japan to support Ukraine’s recovery in the fields of culture, education, and communication and information, as the war is about to enter its fifth year on February 24. This new contribution will allow UNESCO to scale up and sustain its actions on the ground, and underscores Japan’s role as one of UNESCO’s leading partners in supporting the Ukrainian people and institutions.
UNESCO / Stanislav KartashevAll rights reserved
10 February 2026 Last update:11 February 2026
" The UNESCO project we are signing today, valued at USD 3.8 million, stands as a testament to Japan’s strong partnership with UNESCO and our steadfast support for Ukraine. Japan remains steadfast in its commitment to the people of Ukraine. Together with UNESCO, we will exert our utmost efforts to ensure the success of this important initiative. "——Masashi Nakagome Ambassador of Japan to Ukraine
" The full-scale invasion has inflicted devastating damage on Ukraine’s cultural heritage, with more than 1600 cultural sites damaged or destroyed, putting our historical memory and national identity at risk. We are deeply grateful to the Government of Japan for its support, which enables us not only to document these crimes against culture, but also to take urgent action to protect and restore cultural heritage. By safeguarding culture, we affirm it as an integral pillar of Ukraine’s resilience and a foundation for its future recovery. "——Anastasiia Bondar Deputy Minister of Culture of Ukraine
" We are deeply grateful to Japan for its continuous and strong commitment to UNESCO’s work on the ground. This additional contribution comes at a critical moment for Ukraine. Japan’s sustained commitment is making a tangible difference in strengthening Ukraine’s resilience and supporting its people. "——Chiara Dezzi Bardeschi Head of UNESCO Antenna in Ukraine
The signing ceremony was held in presence of HE. Masashi Nakagome, Ambassador of Japan to Ukraine, the Deputy Minister of Culture of Ukraine, representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science and of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Ukrainian National Commission for UNESCO.
UNESCO actions supported by the new contribution
Thanks to this additional funding, UNESCO will continue and expand its support to Ukraine across three priority areas:
Culture
UNESCO support will strengthen regular tracking and verification of war-related damage to cultural heritage using remote and satellite imagery and on-the-ground checks. This will allow for rapid emergency measures to stabilize and repair damaged cultural sites and help prevent further deterioration. In parallel, the project will help develop policy guidance, planning tools, and regulatory frameworks so that cultural heritage and the culture sector are properly included in national and local recovery and reconstruction plans.
Education
UNESCO will continue to support Ukraine’s education system, with a focus on safe, inclusive and resilient learning environments. This includes training for education professionals and continued support for mental health and psychosocial well-being within the education sector, contributing to the long-term recovery of learners and educators.
Communication and Information
UNESCO will reinforce its work to support journalists and media professionals, promote access to reliable information, and strengthen media and information literacy. These efforts aim to ensure that citizens remain informed and equipped to navigate disinformation in the context of the ongoing war.
Building on strong results achieved
Japan has been a key partner of UNESCO in Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, providing consistent and significant support across culture, education and media development. This new contribution builds on previous Japanese funding, which has enabled UNESCO to deliver large-scale emergency assistance, investing in livelihood and skills through training and institutional support nationwide, reaching professionals, institutions and communities across the country. In particular, nearly 320,000 vulnerable learners have gained improved access to mental health and psychosocial support services thanks to funding from Japan. Over 36,000 educators and school psychologists gained access to the professional community of practice and materials with over 5,000 completed inclusive education courses. Over 5,100 journalists have received support through solidarity centres, grants, training and psychological assistance. In the field of culture, damage to 514 cultural heritage sites has been verified, with 17 sites receiving emergency stabilization, and more than 720 cultural professionals trained in emergency heritage protection. Japan’s support has also strengthened environmental monitoring through assistance to eight biodiversity reserves and one natural park.
This new contribution from Japan brings the country’s total support to US$29.1 million, representing nearly 40% of all funding mobilized by UNESCO for Ukraine. This underscores Japan’s role as one of UNESCO’s leading partners in supporting the Ukrainian people and institutions.
To date, more than US$75 million has been mobilized by UNESCO to implement its mandate in Ukraine, helping to protect cultural heritage, ensure the continuity of education, and safeguard access to reliable information for Ukrainian society during the war.