Ministry of Culture: Cross on Lavra сhurch fell due to Russian shelling

Dismantling of the fallen cross. Photo: SES

On March 8, 2025, the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Reserve published an official statement on Facebook regarding the collapse of the cross from the Church of All Saints in the Upper Lavra.

The statement attributed the incident to Russian shelling, which "threatens Ukraine’s cultural heritage."

"Constant missile attacks on Kyiv not only pose a threat to human lives but also critically impact the condition of historical monuments. Shockwaves, seismic vibrations, and tremors caused by the shelling can inflict hidden yet irreversible damage to architectural structures," the Ministry of Culture explained regarding the collapse of the cross from the church built by Mazepa.

At the same time, the statement suggested another possible cause of the incident, noting that the Church of All Saints "has required comprehensive restoration since the 1980s."

The message does not specify which of these is considered the primary cause of the cross’s collapse.

As a reminder, on March 8, a cross collapsed from the dome of the Church of All Saints in Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

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