Strike on the Holy Dormition Monastery
On January 28, 2026, Russian forces launched an attack using strike drones against the Holy Dormition Monastery, a men's monastery in Odesa. The assault, recorded as hitting the city's Kyiv district, damaged the monastery's dairy workshop and its farmyard. The impact caused a fire, but no monks or novices were killed, as they had managed to reach a shelter in time. This attack is part of a wider pattern of strikes on Ukrainian cultural and religious sites.
Recovery and Resilience
The Odesa eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC-MP) reported the attack via the news outlet GLAVKOM. In response to the tragedy, the eparchy expressed a determination to rebuild what was destroyed:
"We will rebuild and restore everything that was destroyed. And we believe: despite all the losses and trials, everything will be good for us. May the Lord give the Ukrainian people the strength to endure and survive these years of terrible, bloody, and unjust war." - Odesa Eparchy of the UOC-MP
The targeting of the Holy Dormition Monastery underscores the prolonged and brutal nature of the conflict in Ukraine, highlighting its impact on civilian infrastructure and religious institutions. The planned restoration of the monastery could serve as a potent symbol of resilience and recovery, mirroring the broader struggle of the Ukrainian people for peace and stability in their country.