Cultural genocide under the guise of “restoration”: the occupiers are planning a large-scale “restoration” of the Sudak Fortress

This is not about conservation or scientific research, but about a full-scale intervention in the architectural fabric of the monument, which, when carried out by the Russian Federation, usually results in the loss of its authenticity.

The site targeted by the occupiers is the “Church with an Arcade” (dating back to 1322), which is part of the Sudak Fortress complex from the 14th–15th centuries, to which the occupiers have granted the status of a “cultural heritage site of federal significance.” This structure is unique due to its architectural transformation: built by the Seljuk conquerors as a mosque, it was later converted into a Genoese consular hall, a Catholic church, an Orthodox church, and, prior to the occupation, served as a museum within the architectural and archaeological reserve.

The Sudak Fortress is part of the National Preserve “Saint Sophia of Kyiv,” and any work on its territory without approval from the relevant Ukrainian ministries and international institutions is illegal.

According to an issued “order of the head of the Republic of Crimea,” Sergey Aksyonov, the sole contractor for the works is LLC “KIRAMET.” The company is expected to develop scientific and design documentation by December 1, 2026. The cost of the project is 6.225 million rubles (approximately 3.5 million hryvnias).

The selection of LLC “KIRAMET” (Simferopol) as the sole contractor without proper international tenders is a classic scheme of the occupation authorities.

Why “restoration” in the Russian sense means destruction

Restoration of such complex heritage sites (13th–15th centuries) requires highly specialized experts in Byzantine and Italian architecture, to whom a sanctioned company has no access.

By labeling the site as a “cultural heritage object of federal significance of the Russian Federation,” the occupation authorities are once again attempting to remove the monument from Ukraine’s jurisdiction and international conventions.

Why this is especially dangerous now

The “Church with Arcade” has already suffered multiple times from unprofessional restoration approaches. However, preparing documentation under the control of an occupying state means:

● Erasure of inconvenient historical layers. There is a risk that restoration will emphasize only those historical periods that are useful for Russian propaganda.

● Use of “restoration” as a cover. Design work is often followed by construction that destroys authentic masonry, replacing it with modern limestone and cement.

● Ignoring UNESCO. Since the fortress is a candidate for the World Heritage List, any work carried out by LLC “KIRAMET” automatically jeopardizes its international recognition until de-occupation occurs.

Ukrainian expert and law enforcement communities have repeatedly stated:

“Any interference with cultural heritage sites in the occupied peninsula constitutes a war crime. The actions of the occupation authorities and contractor organizations are classified under Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (violation of the laws and customs of war). Those involved will be held accountable not only in Ukrainian courts but also in international tribunals, as appropriation and destruction of cultural property violate the 1954 Hague Convention.”

Background. The “Church with Arcade,” also known as the Padishah-Jami Mosque, is one of the most mysterious and multilayered structures of the Sudak Fortress. Its history spans over 800 years and reflects the succession of major civilizations in Crimea.

Most historians agree that the building was constructed by Anatolian Seljuks in 1222 or the early 13th century after the capture of Sudak. It is considered the first cathedral mosque in Crimea.

After the city came under Genoese control in 1365, the mosque was rebuilt. The Genoese used it as a council hall (a meeting place of the elders), and later converted it into a Catholic church.

Another transformation occurred after the Ottoman capture of Soldaia (Sudak) in 1475, when the building once again became a mosque. During this period, it received the name Padishah-Jami in honor of the Ottoman sultan.

Following the Russian occupation/annexation of Crimea in 1783, the building successively served as an Orthodox church, a German Lutheran church, and an Armenian Catholic church.

From 1925, during the Soviet period, an historical and archaeological museum operated on the fortress grounds, and the building itself became a museum site. Even before the 2014 occupation, it was part of the National Preserve “Saint Sophia of Kyiv,” where an architectural and archaeological exhibition was housed inside the mosque-church.

“So what is this structure? A mosque with Italian frescoes, an Orthodox church, or a Catholic temple with a mihrab? A magistrate building or a museum? Above all, it is a monument of the history of the Crimean peninsula. Its history is what shaped its ‘domed structure,’” wrote cultural researcher, Ukrainian writer Valeriy Verkhovsky (1969–2024) in his article “Padishah-Jami (Church with Arcade).”

Recently, Golos Krymu reported that on the outskirts of occupied Sevastopol, an unidentified fortress of the Principality of Theodoro was identified — a new archaeological site named “Isardzhiklar,” which has become another target of illegal activity by Russian archaeologists, who since 2024 have begun large-scale interference in the cultural layers of the southwestern Crimean Peninsula.