The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra is to be restored using funds from the reserve fund
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced this after inspecting the damaged Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. He said the government would allocate funds from the reserve fund for urgent repairs.
The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, which was damaged as a result of the Russian attack on 15 June, will be restored using funds from the reserve fund.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the government will allocate funds for priority work at the damaged site. This primarily involves clearing up the aftermath of the strike, preserving the site and preparing for further restoration.
What Zelenskyy said
After inspecting the damaged Lavra, Zelenskyy announced that the Cabinet of Ministers must hold an urgent meeting and allocate funds from the reserve fund.
According to the president, this is “fast money” needed for urgent work. He emphasised that the main task now is to preserve what remains after the strike, and only then move on to restoration.
Zelenskyy also noted that, following initial conservation work, expert assessments must be carried out to determine the extent of the damage and the subsequent plan of action.
What has been damaged at the Lavra
According to the State Emergency Service and Ukrainian media, a fire broke out on the grounds of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra following the Russian strike. The roof of the Assumption Cathedral was on fire, with the area affected by the blaze covering around 800 square metres.
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church reported that a Russian strike drone damaged the altar area of the St Stephen’s Chapel. Also, according to its reports, a second strike attempt damaged the John Kushnik Tower, knocking the dome off.
Overall, according to reports from the scene, at least several other structures within the Lavra’s grounds were damaged. The full extent of the damage is to be determined following an inspection.
Why conservation is needed first
For a monument of this calibre, routine repairs are not the first step. Following the strike and fire, experts must first halt further destruction.
This involves temporarily covering the damaged areas, reinforcing structures, protecting interiors from moisture, cordoning off hazardous zones and documenting all damage.
Only then should expert assessments be carried out: engineering, restoration, heritage conservation and, if necessary, art historical. It is these assessments that must determine what can be preserved, what requires restoration, and what has been lost.
The Lavra has been temporarily closed
Following the attack, the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra was temporarily closed to visitors. This was due both to public safety concerns and the need to inspect the damaged areas.
Rescue workers, police, specialists and representatives of the relevant services were working at the site. The damaged areas were cordoned off, and some of the sacred objects and museum artefacts were evacuated.
Ukraine appeals to international mechanisms
Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga stated that Ukraine is initiating relevant procedures within UNESCO and other international mechanisms following the strike on the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Therefore, its damage has not only a Ukrainian but also an international dimension.
The Ministry of Culture described the attack on the Lavra as one of the gravest crimes against world cultural heritage and called on the international community to step up pressure on Russia.
What led to the funding decision
On the night of 14 June, Russia launched a massive attack on Ukraine using strike drones and missiles. Powerful explosions were heard in Kyiv, with damage reported in almost all districts of the capital.
According to the latest figures, five people were killed in the capital and over 30 were injured. Other sites were also hit, including Kyiv’s cultural infrastructure.
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