UOC St. Nicholas Protection Cathedral in Druzhkivka damaged in shelling

The aftermath of the shelling of the UOC St. Nicholas Protection Cathedral in Druzhkivka. Photo: Telegram channel of the Pokrovsk Vicariate

During the night of April 3, 2026, the St. Nicholas Protection Cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the city of Druzhkivka, Donetsk region, was damaged as a result of shelling, according to the Telegram channel of the Pokrovsk Vicariate.

Judging by the published photographs, the church roof sustained heavy damage: part of it was destroyed, and traces of the blast wave are visible on the upper structures of the building. Damage to the façade can also be seen, with some exterior elements blown out.

Inside the cathedral, part of the ceiling has collapsed, and holes have been torn through the vaulting. Debris is scattered across the interior, while windows and elements of the inner decoration have been damaged. The surrounding grounds also bear the marks of the strike: fragments of roofing and building materials lie scattered, and visible destruction can be seen near the church walls.

The St. Nicholas Protection Cathedral in Druzhkivka has a history spanning more than a century. The church was built in 1900 by the French-Belgian Joint-Stock Company and survived closure during the Soviet period, when it was used as a club, cafeteria, cinema, and museum. During the Second World War, the building was damaged by shelling, but it survived and was later restored. In 1988, for the 1,000th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus’, the church was reopened.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that in central Lviv, a Russian drone struck a house near a UGCC church.

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