Russia has come up with new versions of the attack on the Lavra and the Dovzhenko Film Studios
Reuters reports on statements made by the Russian Ministry of Defence.
Following a massive attack on Kyiv on 15 June, the Russian Ministry of Defence stated that it had not struck the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
According to the Russian ministry, the historic complex was allegedly damaged by a missile from the US Patriot air defence system. The Russian Ministry of Defence also claimed that the Oleksandr Dovzhenko Film Studio allegedly housed a workshop for the production and preparation of long- and medium-range drones.
What Russia said
The Russian Ministry of Defence stated that the Russian army had allegedly attacked “military-industrial complex facilities” in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipro.
Separately, the Russian ministry claimed that the complex of buildings at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra had allegedly been hit by a Patriot missile. They also suggested that the alleged “malfunction” could have been caused by the transfer of missiles with expired shelf lives to Ukraine.
The Russians also claimed that the Dovzhenko Film Studio allegedly housed a workshop for the production or preparation of UAVs for use. The Russian side provided no evidence to support these claims.
What is known about the consequences of the attack
The Ukrainian side reported that during the night-time attack on 15 June in Kyiv, the Oleksandr Dovzhenko National Film Studio and the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra were among those affected.
According to the Ministry of Culture, a fire broke out on the film studio’s premises, the costume workshop was damaged, and Ukraine’s largest and oldest costume collection was destroyed. The film studio’s archives held around 100,000 costumes and 3 million items of various clothing.
Fires broke out on the grounds of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra following the strike. Ukrainian media reported that the roof of the Assumption Cathedral had caught fire and that sacred relics and museum exhibits had been evacuated.
Why is Russia promoting the ‘Patriot’ narrative?
The narrative that Ukraine allegedly “fired on itself” is a typical Russian propaganda tactic following attacks on civilian or cultural sites.
On 15 June, Yuriy Ignat, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force, specifically urged Ukrainians not to publish photos of missile debris or other munitions. According to him, the Russians use such images to promote the narrative that Ukraine is allegedly shelling its own cities.
This is precisely why the Air Force is asking people not to share photos of debris until experts have finished their work. Such material can be used not only to identify the type of weapon but also for Russian propaganda.
How this relates to the attack on cultural heritage
Russian claims about a “drone workshop” and a “Patriot missile” emerged following reports of damage to important cultural sites in Kyiv.
Ukrainian officials have previously stated that Russia is systematically attacking not only civilian infrastructure but also cultural institutions that preserve Ukrainian history, memory and identity.
What is important to document
In such cases, it is important to distinguish between three things: statements by the Russian Ministry of Defence, confirmed consequences of the attack, and the official Ukrainian record of the damage.
Russian statements remain the version of the aggressor state. In contrast, the damage to the Dovzhenko Film Studio, the destruction of the costume collection and the fire on the grounds of the Lavra were confirmed by Ukrainian officials, emergency services and media at the scene.
Further assessment of the damage must include photographic and video documentation, engineering surveys, an inventory of lost collections, and the transfer of materials to law enforcement agencies and international institutions.
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