Tower of St. John the Hut-Dweller damaged in Russian attack on Lavra
Aftermath of the missile strike on the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. Photo: UNIAN
Russia’s massive attack on Kyiv on the night of June 15, 2026, caused fires at structures on the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra territory. According to Maksym Ostapenko, director general of the reserve, the enemy carried out two targeted strikes on the monastery grounds. The second Geran-2 kamikaze drone hit the 300-year-old stone tower on Mazepa Street and also damaged the neighboring Mystetskyi Arsenal building.
The Tower of St. John the Hut-Dweller is a unique fortification structure that forms part of the architectural ensemble of the shrine and is protected by UNESCO. The explosion destroyed part of the ancient stonework, and a fire broke out at the impact site.
The tower was built in 1698 at the expense of Hetman Ivan Mazepa as a watchtower together with the monastery’s stone walls. It was named in honor of St. John the Hut-Dweller, the hetman’s heavenly patron. In 2024, specialists completed a full restoration of the roof of this architectural monument.
As the UOJ reported, St. Nicholas Church in Dnipro was damaged in an overnight Russian shelling.
Read also
Greece signs memorandum on protection of Jerusalem Patriarchate's shrines
Next week, the Greek Parliament will ratify a document on the protection of the cultural heritage of the Jerusalem Patriarchate.
Greek bishop calls imposition of same-sex marriage a threat
Metropolitan Seraphim of Kythera urged families to become a “domestic church” amid threats to the Christian family in Greek laws and school curricula.
Patriarch Bartholomew arrives in Budapest for opening of Orthodox center
The Ecumenical Patriarch has arrived in Hungary, where he will preside over the consecration of the Orthodox center "Phanarion."
OCU raiders stage attack on seized church in Kyiv, media
OCU "hierarch" Serhiy Horobtsov published a provocative post online regarding St. John's Church in Bykivnia seized by his people.