A Russian overnight strike has damaged the historic Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, one of Ukraine’s most treasured landmarks and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ukraine's Culture Ministry confirmed on Tuesday.
"Mykola Tochytskyi, Ukraine's Culture Minister, condemned the strike as an attack on national identity. 'The enemy struck at the very heart of our identity again,' he wrote on Facebook, calling the 11th-century cathedral 'the soul of all Ukraine.'"
The explosion’s shockwave reportedly damaged the cornice of the cathedral’s main apse, causing chunks of white plaster to crumble to the ground. Video footage from the site revealed visible structural cracks.
Vadym Kyrylenko, first deputy director general of the Saint Sophia complex, confirmed this is the first time the cathedral has sustained war-related damage. Though the site didn’t suffer critical structural harm, officials are on high alert due to ongoing Russian drone activity. "Sometimes [the drones] almost touch the crosses on the bell tower 76 meters above the ground," Kyrylenko noted.
Added to UNESCO’s World Heritage list in 1990, the cathedral is celebrated for its Byzantine architecture, golden domes, and historic mosaics. UNESCO had previously listed the site as endangered due to ongoing threats from Russia’s invasion, citing concerns over potential damage to the cathedral’s ancient structure and artistic elements.
Experts from a specialized institute are expected to conduct a thorough inspection and carry out restoration work as needed.
The attack underscores growing fears about the vulnerability of cultural landmarks in conflict zones, especially those deeply tied to national identity and historical legacy.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)