Church of the Saviour at Berestove Restored After Attack
On June 17, 2024, the historic Church of the Saviour at Berestove in Kyiv reopened its doors to visitors following cleanup and repair efforts from a missile strike that occurred on the night of June 15. The church, a part of the National Reserve of Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, had been closed temporarily due to the attack. The Russian assault triggered a large fire in the Dormition Cathedral on the Lavra grounds, and also caused damage to residential buildings and the Alexander Dovzhenko National Film Studio.
Inspections and damage mitigation work continue across the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra complex. The Church of the Saviour at Berestove is located at 15 Ivan Mazepa Street, on the site of the former princely estate of Berestove. Its architecture spans layers from the 12th to the 19th centuries, and inside, visitors can see original 12th-century frescoes from the Kyivan Rus period, 17th-century paintings by Greek masters, and a rare lifetime portrait of Metropolitan Peter Mogila.
Aftermath of the Strike
The June 15 attack on this UNESCO World Heritage site caused a major fire in the Dormition Cathedral. Sacred items and liturgical objects from the Lavra were successfully evacuated before the blaze spread.
- In Kyiv's Pechersk district, a five-story residential building was hit directly.
- In the Obolon district, a strike caused structural damage between the third and fourth floors of a residential building.
- In the Solomyansky district, a nine-story residential building was struck.
Additionally, the attack sparked a fire at the Alexander Dovzhenko National Film Studio, destroying Ukraine's largest and oldest costume collection. The studio housed approximately 100,000 costumes and three million items of clothing, a devastating loss for the country's cultural heritage.
The reopening of the Church of the Saviour at Berestove marks a significant step in restoring Ukraine's cultural and historical legacy after severe damage inflicted by military actions.
This church holds profound importance not only for the local community but for the entire nation, serving as a symbol of resilience and the preservation of national identity. At the same time, the destruction of the Alexander Dovzhenko National Film Studio underscores the immense losses Ukrainian culture faces amid the conflict, highlighting the urgent need for greater protection of cultural heritage sites.
As the Church of the Saviour at Berestove reopens, the impact of the recent missile strike on the entire Kyiv Pechersk Lavra complex is becoming increasingly evident. The total damage from this attack is estimated to exceed 500 million hryvnias, highlighting the extensive destruction faced by this UNESCO World Heritage site. For a detailed look at the repercussions of the strike and the ongoing recovery efforts, see the assessment of damages.