Russia’s drone strike on Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra on Monday damaged five heritage sites and nearly caused catastrophic destruction to one of Ukraine’s most important cultural landmarks, the head of the national preserve said in an interview with Deutsche Welle (DW) published on Tuesday, June 16.
According to DW, the attack occurred during Russia’s mass overnight assault on Kyiv on June 15, when drones struck the UNESCO World Heritage site, setting the roof of the historic Dormition Cathedral ablaze.
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Maksym Ostapenko, director of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Preserve, said more than 20 fire crews worked under continuing missile and drone threats to contain the fire before it spread inside the cathedral.
“The most important thing is that the flames did not reach the interior, where the iconostasis is located,” Ostapenko said.
According to him, around 800 square meters (8,600 square feet) of roofing were damaged, but firefighters managed to prevent the blaze from reaching the wooden iconostasis and other historic interiors.
Emergency workers also evacuated artifacts and relics dating from the 16th to 18th centuries that were on display inside the cathedral.
The Dormition Cathedral, originally built between 1073 and 1078, has survived centuries of wars, invasions, fires, and destruction. It was rebuilt after being destroyed during World War II and remains one of Ukraine’s most important religious and cultural landmarks.
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Five heritage sites damaged
Ostapenko said the attack affected not only the cathedral but also several nearby cultural institutions.
The Museum of Book Printing suffered damage to its windows and doors, while the Museum of Historical Treasures of Ukraine reported damage to windows and parts of its exhibition.
In total, five nationally protected heritage sites and several locally protected monuments sustained damage.
A second drone reportedly struck the 17th-century Kushchnyk Tower, built with funding from Hetman Ivan Mazepa in 1698. Debris from the impact also damaged the Mystetskyi Arsenal cultural complex.
“By sheer miracle, none of the firefighters were injured,” Ostapenko said.
Officials reject Russian claims
Russian state media claimed the damage was caused by a Ukrainian Patriot air defense missile rather than a Russian drone.
Ostapenko rejected those claims, saying investigators recovered carbon-fiber fragments, wing components, and engine parts consistent with Shahed-type drones.
“I have no doubts,” he said. “They deliberately targeted the shrine.”
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said it recovered fragments from Russia’s Geran drones at the historic complex after the attack.
According to the preserve director, the attack appears to have been aimed at the cathedral itself, specifically at its altar, to maximize damage.
UNESCO experts arrive on site
The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, which marks the 975th anniversary of its first historical mention this year, is included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
Ostapenko said UNESCO experts had already visited the site, and Kyiv’s allies have offered assistance for restoration efforts.
He estimated that restoring the cathedral could take about two years under ideal conditions if funding is secured and attacks cease.
According to Ukrainian officials, more than 1,700 cultural heritage and cultural infrastructure sites across Ukraine have been damaged or destroyed since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
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