From October 24 to 26, 2024, the National Conference 'Heritage Management in Emergency Situations: Asset Recovery, Community Reconstruction' was held at the church and monastery of Santa Maria in Vallo di Nera (Umbria, Italy), with the honored guest being Nelya Kukovalska, General Director of the National Reserve 'Saint Sophia of Kyiv,' a full member of the Ukrainian Academy of Architecture and an honored cultural figure of Ukraine.
At this forum, over 20 presentations were given by specialists in heritage management, restorers, engineers, and architects who have directly participated in the reconstruction of historical buildings and cultural heritage sites after earthquakes and other natural disasters that have occurred in Europe.
In her speech, Nelya Kukovalska discussed the threats to monuments and cultural sites during Russian aggression, highlighting the preservation challenges faced by the National Reserve 'Saint Sophia of Kyiv' from the very first days of the full-scale war and the measures taken to address them. Conference participants were deeply engaged by this presentation, as evidenced by the large number of questions and the final response from the audience, who stood and applauded their Ukrainian colleague.
One of the important outcomes of the conference was an agreement to hold a workshop on the restoration and reconstruction of monuments, drawing on Italy’s experience and utilizing techniques, technologies, and innovative restoration materials needed for Ukrainian specialists at the National Reserve 'Saint Sophia of Kyiv.'
