Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture reports damage to Kyiv Lavra due to shelling

Annunciation Church at the Lavra's Far Caves. Photo: Wikipedia

On January 26, 2026, Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture reported on its official website that facilities of the National Reserve “Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra” were damaged as a result of a missile-and-drone attack on Kyiv on the night of January 24.

According to the ministry, the shelling damaged Building No. 66 – the entrance section of the Far Caves complex – as well as Building No. 67 (the Annunciation Church), where “partial damage to façade elements” was recorded. The statement reports “damage to doors and window frames, crumbling and cracking of exterior plaster, as well as mechanical damage to door and window fittings.”

As confirmation, the Ministry of Culture published photos showing a window with damaged glass and plaster debris on the floor of a space resembling a covered gallery leading to the Far Caves.

At the same time, sources from UOJ who sent a video report that during an external inspection of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra buildings, including the Annunciation Church, no visible damage was recorded. The sources noted, however, that they do not have access to the Near and Far Caves of the Lavra, and therefore cannot verify the condition of the interior spaces.

The Ministry of Culture stated that an in-depth technical inspection of the structures would be carried out on January 26.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Ministry of Culture is terminating its agreement with the UOC regarding the Baturyn Monastery in Chernihiv Region.

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