Former Defense Minister Slams Monastery Bishop's Statement After Russian Attack

Anatoliy Hrytsenko Criticizes Bishop Avraamiy's Official Response

According to Главком: Anatoliy Hrytsenko, Ukraine's former defense minister and a prominent political figure, has sharply criticized the official statement issued by Bishop Avraamiy, the abbot of the damaged Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, following Russia's overnight assault on Ukraine. Hrytsenko pointed out that the statement failed to mention the ongoing war, Russia as the aggressor, Vladimir Putin, or Patriarch Kirill. According to Hrytsenko, while every word in the bishop's address was technically correct, it lacked a clear identification of who was responsible for the strikes.

Aftermath of the Attack

The overnight attack on Kyiv caused widespread devastation. The heaviest blow fell on the capital, with a direct hit on the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The impact sparked a massive fire that engulfed the roof of the Dormition Cathedral, forcing the evacuation of sacred relics and liturgical items from the monastery. Additional strikes hit residential buildings in the Pechersk, Obolon, and Solomianskyi districts, leading to structural damage and fires.

Hrytsenko acknowledged the unique nature of religious leadership, noting that a clergyman is not a government official or lawmaker expected to deliver lengthy political assessments. However, he argued that composing a long statement about the destruction of the Lavra without once naming the country responsible for the attacks came across as insincere.

“In the text of the statement, I found no mention of the war, no mention of Russia as the aggressor, and no mention-let alone condemnation-of Putin, who started and has been waging this war for 13 years... There is not a single word about Patriarch Kirill, who regularly blesses the war and the enemy army,” Hrytsenko stated.

He expressed hope that in the future, Ukrainian church leaders and religious organizations would take less evasive stances toward the enemy.

Beyond the monastery, the attack also damaged the National Oleksandr Dovzhenko Film Studio, where a fire destroyed Ukraine's largest and oldest costume collection. The studio housed approximately one hundred thousand costumes and three million clothing items, with additional buildings and facilities on the premises also sustaining damage.

This overnight assault underscores the ongoing threat to Ukraine's cultural heritage, as well as to the lives and safety of its citizens. The Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, as a crucial historical and religious site, suffered severe destruction, sparking outrage across Ukrainian society. The response from religious figures to the aggression is particularly significant, as their stance can shape public morale and influence societal opinion during wartime.

In light of the recent events, the destruction at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra has raised significant concerns regarding the implications of such attacks on cultural heritage. For a detailed account of the fire that erupted in the cathedral due to the missile strike, you can read more about the incident and its aftermath here.