Russian drone barrage damages 11th-century UNESCO Heritage cathedral in Kyiv
The 11th-century St. Sophia Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was damaged in a massive Russian attack on Kyiv overnight, Ukraine’s Culture Minister Mykola Tochytskyi reported on Facebook on June 10, posting photos from the site.
The blast wave destroyed the cornice on the cathedral's main apse.
“Last night, the enemy struck again at the very heart of our identity. The St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, a shrine that has survived centuries and symbolizes the birth of our statehood, was damaged. This 11th-century church is the soul of the whole of Ukraine,” he said.
Tochytskyi also reported that the legendary Odessa Film Studio was damaged in the Russian drone barrage. The damage included pavilions, warehouses, film set decorations, and vehicles.
Dovzhenko's film set decorations were completely destroyed.
"Russia is not only at war with our cities; it is waging war against our culture, memory, and future."
Overnight, Russian forces launched 315 attack and imitator drones and fired two KN-23 ballistic missiles and five Iskander-K cruise missiles at Ukraine.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, 284 drones were shot down or neutralized by electronic warfare.
Earlier in the day, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported widespread damage and fires, as well as the partial destruction of residential high-rise apartment buildings, private houses, offices, warehouses, and cars in the city’s Solomyanskyi, Shevchenkivskyi, Obolonskyi, Darnytskyi, Holosyivskyi, Desnyanskyi, and Podilskyi districts. At least four people were hospitalized with injuries.
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