In response to a Russian strike on the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha announced that the country will promptly initiate all necessary procedures within UNESCO and other international frameworks. The attack occurred overnight on June 15, causing significant damage to this UNESCO World Heritage site.
Sybiha emphasized the urgency of international action, stating, “We will immediately begin all relevant procedures within UNESCO and all other international mechanisms, demanding an immediate and adequate response to this state barbarism.” He called for decisive actions from global institutions, rejecting any vague responses or silence.
The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra is recognized as a unique heritage site under special protection. Sybiha condemned the attack, asserting that Russian President Vladimir Putin has cemented his name among history’s worst aggressors. He also expressed that the ongoing war will ultimately be lost by Russia.
“From the Horde in the 13th century to the Nazis and Bolsheviks in the 20th century, the sacred monasteries of Kyiv have endured numerous barbaric assaults. Now, we are facing Russian terrorists who have surpassed ISIS in their crimes against cultural heritage,” Sybiha stated.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko also highlighted the need for enhanced missile interception capabilities to protect civilians and cities from such attacks. She reported that the recent assault resulted in four fatalities and 25 injuries, including two children.
“This night, Russia launched another massive attack on Ukraine with missiles and drones. Four people lost their lives, and my condolences go out to their families,” Svyrydenko said.
She noted that damage was widespread across the capital, affecting residential areas and cultural sites, including the Assumption Cathedral of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and the roof of the Mystetskyi Arsenal.
“Russia continues to expand the boundaries of its barbarism, deliberately targeting residential neighborhoods and destroying cultural heritage while terrorizing civilians. We will endure, and everything they have destroyed will be restored,” Svyrydenko added.
The attack on the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra caused a fire, reportedly triggered by a drone strike on the roof of the Assumption Cathedral. According to Maksym Ostapenko, the director of the national reserve, significant damage was inflicted on the upper parts of the building.
Deputy Minister of Culture Ivan Verbytsky noted that several other structures within the Lavra also sustained minor damage. Following the attack, sacred items and liturgical objects, including ancient icons, were urgently evacuated to protect them.
Thanks to the efforts of the Lavra’s community and emergency responders, valuable items were preserved, minimizing the threat to human life. Assessments of the building’s damage are currently underway.
The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site and is under enhanced protection as per the Second Protocol to the Hague Convention of 1954.
Ukraine has launched immediate actions through UNESCO following a Russian strike on the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which resulted in casualties and significant damage. Officials emphasize the need for international support and enhanced defense capabilities to protect cultural heritage and civilians.