At least at the kitchen table, Ukraine has already won against Russia. The war-torn country claimed victory in an age-old gastronomic dispute with Moscow after UNESCO placed Borscht - a traditional beetroot soup - on its list of protected Ukrainian cultural heritage.

When Ukrainian celebrity chef Yevhen Klopotenko heard that Russia declared Borscht as its national dish, he was determined to set the record straight. "I knew that I am the person who can change this," he told CGTN. 

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The 35-year-old chef traveled across his country and meticulously documented how closely borscht is linked to Ukrainian culture.

Last week, UNESCO approved Klopotenko's application and declared that the Ukrainian borscht was part of the nations cultural heritage that is in need of "urgent safeguarding."

The chef feared Moscow's assault would threaten the soup's status as an element of Ukraine's heritage and UNESCO agreed. "Russian troops attack our territory and they kill the people," said Klopotenko. "With each Ukrainian family that is being killed, one recipe of borscht dies as well because every family in Ukraine has its own special unique recipe."

Borscht is a popular dish throughout Eastern Europe and Northern Asia, but Ukraine is frequently cited as its place of origin. It may be prepared with meat, cabbage or even fish.

"To me, the taste of borscht means family and homeland," Kyiv resident Denys Shymanskyi says. "It is the coolest dish we Ukrainians have."

Yuilia Bondarenko from Odesa is proud of UNESCO's declaration. "They confirmed our ownership [of borscht] but it's a victory that has always existed in our hearts, even before this decision," she told CGTN.

Moscow described the new protected Ukrainian status of borscht as an example of "contemporary Kyiv nationalism."

Meanwhile, the UN cultural agency highlighted that with the new status, Ukraine could now apply for special funds to promote and protect the dish.