“borscht soup” storms the conflict between Russia and Ukraine

Moscow: AFP
On Friday, the Russian Foreign Ministry condemned the declaration of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) that the cultural heritage associated with Ukrainian borsch is in danger, and ridiculed this position, which was considered a victory for Kiev, at the height of its armed conflict with Moscow.
UNESCO included the culture associated with Ukrainian borsch soup on its list of intangible cultural heritage in danger, in the context of the consequences of the war in Ukraine that threaten the “continuity” of the traditions surrounding this famous dish.
The rapporteur of the Committee for the Evaluation of the Ukrainian File in the organization, Pier Luigi Petrillo, explained that “the existence of this soup is not in danger in itself, but the human and living heritage associated with the borsch is at direct risk, due to the serious disruption of the population’s ability to practice and transmit their intangible cultural heritage as a result of armed conflict, particularly due to the forced displacement of communities.
He decided that “for all these factors, it is necessary to take an urgent initiative to protect this element within the framework of the most urgent action.”
Ukraine submitted a request in mid-April, to include the culture of this soup on the list of intangible cultural heritage in danger, considering that the attack on the country on February 24 by Russia, and the months of bombing that resulted, threaten the “viability” of this dish, and all the traditions surrounding it .
Ukrainian Culture Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko welcomed the UNESCO announcement, saying: “Victory is ours in the Porsche War.”
And he wrote on his account on Telegram that Ukraine “will win the Porsche war and this war,” referring to the conflict with Russia.
He noted that Ukraine will share this beetroot soup recipe with all civilized countries, “and even with uncivilized countries as well, so that they have at least something light, tasty and Ukrainian.”
The Ukrainian initiative has annoyed Russia, where this dish is also being prepared, despite Kyiv’s objection to Moscow ascribing the dish to it.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote on Telegram: “If there is a need to explain to the world from the point of view of food dishes, what is contemporary nationalism in the eyes of Kyiv, I would like to mention this fact: chickpeas and peppered rice are recognized as national dishes in several countries. But as I understand it, Ukrainianization seems to apply to everything.” She asked, “What next? Will pigs be recognized as Ukraine’s national product?
Borsch is an ancient recipe for a soup made of beetroot and meat, usually served with cream or garlic bread.