The Dormition Cathedral at Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra suffered serious damage during a large-scale Russian missile and drone attack on Ukraine overnight on June 15.
A fire broke out on the cathedral’s roof, damaging the upper sections of the building. Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Ukraine’s most important religious and cultural landmarks.
Ukrainian authorities said fragments of a Russian Geran-2 drone were found near the cathedral and said the building had been struck by a Russian drone.
Russia’s Defense Ministry denied responsibility for the damage and said the cathedral may have been hit by a missile fired by a Ukrainian Patriot air defense system. Moscow did not publicly provide independent evidence supporting that claim.
The broader Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv, as well as the fire and serious damage to the Dormition Cathedral, have been independently confirmed. The origin of the specific munition that caused the damage to the building remains disputed by the two sides.