A russian Shahed drone struck the altar area of the Assumption Cathedral of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra. This was reported by the reserve's Director General, Maksym Ostapenko.
"During the night of June 15, at about 1 a.m., a Shahed struck the Assumption Cathedral of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra — specifically the St. Stephen's chapel. There were no fatalities or injuries. Sacred items — icons, antiminsia, and liturgical objects — were evacuated", - the reserve said in a statement.
It is noted that efforts to deal with the aftermath and assess the damage are currently ongoing.
Bishop Abrahamiy, abbot of the Holy Dormition Kyiv Pechersk Lavra of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, reported that ancient icons and other sacred relics were saved after the enemy drone strike and the resulting fire.
"In the first hours after the emergency, we were unable to promptly issue an official statement. All of my attention, as well as that of the brethren, clergy, staff, and relevant services, was focused on urgent measures to protect the holy relics and ensure their safety. First and foremost, an emergency evacuation of sacred items and liturgical objects, ancient icons, antiminsia, and other relics representing not only church but also national and universal human value was organized.
Thanks to the coordinated actions of the Lavra brethren, everyone involved, and the dedicated work of rescuers and firefighting units, it was possible to minimize risks to people and preserve the sacred treasures. Efforts to eliminate the consequences of the attack are ongoing, damage is being assessed, and all circumstances of the incident are being documented", - he noted.
Abrahamiy also called on the international community to pay attention "to the need to protect Ukraine's spiritual and cultural heritage during the ongoing war".
On the night of January 24, 2026, facilities of the National Preserve "Kyiv Pechersk Lavra", which are included on the UNESCO World Heritage List, were damaged during a massive russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv. In particular, Building No. 66 — the entrance section to the Far Caves complex — and Building No. 67 (the Church of the Conception of Saint Anne) were damaged. The blast wave shattered some windows and doors and damaged sections of plaster decoration in many areas.