In Kherson, Holy Spirit Cathedral damaged by shelling at Christmas

Damage to the Holy Spirit Cathedral of the UOC in Kherson. Photo: the Kherson Eparchy of the UOC

On January 7, 2026, on the Feast of the Nativity of Christ, the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Kherson was damaged as a result of shelling, reports the Kherson Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

According to the eparchy, one of the shells hit the main dome of the church, and another exploded on the cathedral's grounds. The impact caused significant damage to the building; however, according to preliminary data, there were no casualties.

Published photographs show the destruction inside the cathedral. The roof is pierced, part of the ceilings collapsed, and the interior decoration is damaged. The protective glass over the icon is shattered, with fragments and construction debris inside. A through hole is recorded on the dome part, around which plaster and elements of painting have crumbled.

Decorative elements of the interior and vault paintings were also damaged. Traces of dust and smoke are noticeable in the premises, indicating the force of the explosion. The damage affected one of the central parts of the church.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the Kasperovskа parish of the UOC in Kherson was shelled for the fifth time.

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