Russia reacted with indignation at UNESCO’s inclusion of the typical Ukrainian “borscht” in the list of intangible cultural heritage under threat, a new “front” in the bilateral conflict.
Following the announcement by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Minister of Culture of Ukraine Oleksandr Tkatchenko commented on the Telegram social network that “Ukraine will win the Borscht war, just like this war,” referring to the armed conflict with Russia.
On the Russian side, Moscow diplomats almost immediately condemned the UNESCO decision, accusing the Ukrainians of appropriating the dish as a form of “modern nationalism.”
“It could be something in common, in which every city, every district, every owner of everyone cooks in his own way, but they [ucranianos] they didn’t want to compromise, and this is xenophobia, Nazism, extremism in all its manifestations,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticized.
“Hummus and rice for pilaf are recognized as national dishes in many countries,” Zakharova continued, “but “Ukrainization” concerns everything. What will happen next? Will pigs be recognized as a Ukrainian national product?” Zakharova joked on the Telegram social network.
borscht soup
Borsch, made from beets and meat, is a traditional soup usually served with plain or garlic bread, widely consumed in Ukraine as well as Russia.
Justifying the UNESCO decision, Pier Luigi Petrillo, a representative of the Ukrainian commission for evaluating the dossier, said that “it is not the very existence of this soup that is in danger, but the human and living heritage associated with“ borscht ”. … in imminent danger, given that the ability of the population to practice and transmit their intangible cultural heritage has been severely undermined by the armed conflict, in particular by the forced displacement of communities.”
In mid-April, Ukraine filed for the soup to be added to the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Danger, arguing that the February 24 Russian invasion of the country and the months of bombing that followed had jeopardized the dish’s “viability”. tradition.
“The population is no longer able to cook or even grow the local vegetables needed to make borscht,” Petrillo commented.
“They can’t get together to practice making ‘borscht’, which jeopardizes social and cultural aspects. Thus, the transfer of this element is in jeopardy,” he continued.
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