Pedro Cantor, a civil engineer from the Universidad de los Andes in Colombia, is making significant strides in preserving historically significant structures damaged by ongoing conflict in Ukraine. With a Master’s in Structural Analysis of Historical Monuments from the University of Minho in Portugal and currently a PhD candidate at CERIS – IST, Cantor has been collaborating with ICCROM and UNESCO to mitigate the impacts of war on cultural heritage.
The conflict has led to extensive destruction across Ukraine, affecting 431 cultural sites, including 138 religious buildings, 214 historical or artistic landmarks, 31 museums, 32 monuments, 15 libraries, and one archive. Considering this devastation, Cantor has been working with ICCROM to train local teams in emergency interventions aimed at preventing the collapse of heritage structures following missile and drone strikes.
In addition to training efforts, Cantor has collaborated with UNESCO to conduct vital structural analyses focused on the damage inflicted by explosions. Noteworthy projects include the structural assessment of the Odesa Cathedral, as well as evaluations of the Cherniviv Theatre and the Faculty of Agriculture at Lviv University. These assessments are crucial for understanding the extent of the damage and formulating effective restoration strategies.
The ongoing efforts led by Cantor and his team are supported by the governments of Japan, Italy, and the United States, enabling them to continue their mission to save Ukraine’s cultural heritage during these challenging times. As the war continues to threaten invaluable historical sites, the work of professionals like Cantor remains essential for the preservation of cultural identity and history in the region.
