What The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Looks Like After The Russians' Barbaric Attack
13- 15.06.2026, 14:33
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Photo essay.
On the night of June 15, Russian forces launched a massive attack on Kyiv, using drones, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles.
As a result of the attack, 140,000 customers were left without power, and damaged the Assumption Cathedral of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
A Russian "Shahed" struck the very center of the roof at around 1:30 a.m. A massive fire broke out, instantly engulfing 800 square meters. The fire spread through the upper tiers of the dome, writes "RBC-Ukraine".
The general director of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Maksym Ostapenko explains: the enemy’s plan was treacherous and cruel.
The occupiers aimed to burn the wooden structures of the dome completely, causing the entire roof to collapse into the church and bury its unique interior beneath it.
Moreover, the cathedral’s beams had been treated with fire-retardant compounds, leading to suspicions that the drone carried a special payload containing an incendiary mixture to maximize the intensity of the flames.
Only thanks to the efforts of firefighters, who worked under the threat of new explosions, was the cathedral saved from complete destruction.
And the threat was real: while emergency responders were battling the fire at the Lavra, the Russians cynically struck a second time.
The 300-year-old Kushnyk Tower and the "Mystetskyi Arsenal" building were hit by the second strike.
Experts will only be able to assess the exact damage to the interior finishes after analyzing the condition of the load-bearing structures.
However, the rescue of the sacred relics was a true miracle and the result of extraordinary solidarity. As soon as the fire broke out, reserve staff, along with the police and monks of the Lavra, rushed to save the unique exhibits.
The entire exhibition dedicated to the Resurrection of Christ was carried out of the fire.
They also managed to evacuate in time one of the most outstanding and valuable relics of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra—the silver reliquary of St. Stephen, which is a unique 18th-century artifact. All these relics are now safe.
Bank's name: Bank Millennium S.A.
Address: ul. Stanislawa Zaryna, 2A, 02-593, Warszawa
IBAN: PL97116022020000000216711123
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Name of the account holder: Fundacja “KARTA ‘97”
Purpose/title of payment: Donation for statuary aims
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