Kiev, June 15, 2026
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The Holy Dormition Cathedral of the Kiev Caves Lavra was hit during a large-scale Russian missile and drone attack on Kiev in the early hours of Monday morning.
Mayor Vitaly Klitschko reported the strike at around 1:50 AM.
The altar section of the St. Stephen’s chapel was struck by either a drone or a Patriot missile, and a fire started on the roof of the Holy Dormition Cathedral covering an area of approximately 8,611 square feet, reports the Information-Education Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Monks and rescue workers formed human chains to evacuate icons and liturgical relics before firefighters brought the blaze under control.
At least five other structures on the grounds were also damaged, including the Tower of St. John the Hut-Dweller, whose dome and cross were knocked to the ground.
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The fire on the cathedral roof was extinguished by 9:00 AM.
The current Dormition Cathedral was rebuilt gradually from ruins beginning in 1998. On August 24, 2000, His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev and All Ukraine consecrated the restored cathedral.
The brotherhood of the Lavra has asked for prayers for the long-suffering monastery and for all those affected by the attack.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense denied responsibility for the damage, stating that the Russian armed forces do not plan or carry out strikes on civilian infrastructure.
According to a statement published Monday, the Ministry said that based on confirmed information, the Lavra complex was struck by a missile from an American Patriot air defense system. The Ministry added that one possible cause of the system’s malfunction could be that Western countries had supplied the Kiev government with expired missiles.
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