As a result of a massive Russian attack on Kyiv on the night of June 15th, the Assumption Cathedral of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra suffered serious damage. After a drone hit, a large-scale fire broke out, but the most valuable relics and museum exhibits were saved thanks to the swift actions of rescuers and the staff of the reserve. This is reported by hromadske.
The Assumption Cathedral of the Lavra was damaged by a direct drone strike
According to Maxim Ostapenko, the director general of the National Reserve Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, the Russian drone hit the central part of the Assumption Cathedral around 1:30 AM.
After the strike, a large-scale fire broke out, engulfing approximately 800 square meters of the building. Emergency services, police, and reserve staff quickly arrived at the scene.
«Thanks to the timely actions of firefighters, we owe to see the Assumption Cathedral as it is now, because it could have been much worse,» noted Ostapenko.
According to him, immediately after the attack, evacuation of museum valuables and shrines began. Among the rescued relics is the Relic of St. Stephen, an 18th-century artifact considered one of the important Orthodox shrines.
Other cultural heritage sites were also damaged
First Deputy Minister of Culture Ivan Verbytsky reported that the fire in the Assumption Cathedral has already been extinguished; however, specialists continue to assess the extent of the damages.
Special attention is given to the large iconostasis, which could not be evacuated due to its size. Experts need to determine its technical condition and whether dismantling or restoration work is necessary.
In addition to the cathedral, damages were recorded on other reserve sites. One of the drones hit the Ivan Kuschnyk tower, after which it damaged the premises of the Art Arsenal, where rescuers were extinguishing the fire for an extended period.
The consequences of the attack affected World Heritage sites
According to preliminary estimates, during the night attack, more than five objects of national cultural heritage and several local historical monuments were affected.
Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and is under international protection. Currently, damage assessment is underway, and conclusions regarding the state of the damaged historic buildings are being prepared.