Sigma Live

Russian Strikes Damage Kyiv Pechersk Lavra

Published January 26, 2026, 14:14
Russian Strikes Damage Kyiv Pechersk Lavra

Russian strikes on Kyiv have caused damage to the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Ukrainian Ministry of Culture announced that the facade, doors, and windows of two buildings, including a church, were damaged. A technical inspection will be carried out to assess their structural integrity. Since the start of the Russian invasion in 2022, 1,640 cultural heritage sites and 2,446 cultural infrastructure facilities have been damaged across Ukraine. The Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, famous for its golden domes, has been in the spotlight in recent years following the removal of monks accused of ties to Moscow. The abbot was placed under house arrest and subsequently briefly imprisoned. The Saturday strikes resulted in at least one death and 27 injuries, coinciding with talks in Abu Dhabi involving Ukrainian, Russian, and US officials aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.