Dumenko: I learned about the Lavra strike from a monk filming nearby
Serhiy Dumenko. Photo: a screenshot from Channel 24
The head of the OCU Serhiy Dumenko shared in an interview with Channel 24 the circumstances under which he learned of the strike on the Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
Responding to a journalist's question, he stated that he received the information almost immediately from a monk of the Theodosius Monastery.
"I found out immediately, practically within a few minutes after it happened. The Theodosius Monastery is located near us, and one of the monks happened to be in the bell tower and was filming at that time. And when I found out, I didn't even believe at first that it had actually happened, because it is terrible," Dumenko stated.
Earlier, the authorities stated that the Shahed drone strike on the Dormition Cathedral occurred at 1:30 a.m. Dumenko did not explain what the monk was doing on the bell tower at night or what exactly he was filming.
As the UOJ previously reported, on April 3, 2026, the OCU Synod relocated the monks of the Theodosius Monastery to the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and established a women’s monastery at the former monastery site.
Read also
Ostapenko: We will remove all frescoes with Russian narratives from the Dormition Cathedral
The director of the nature reserve confirmed the intention to destroy part of the modern paintings in the Dormition Cathedral in order to restore its 'Ukrainian Baroque identity'.
Britain bans social media for children under 16
The UK government has introduced a ban on internet platforms for teenagers to give children back a 'real childhood'.
The head of the reserve named the number of the brotherhood residing in the Lavra
Maksym Ostapenko reported that about 140 monks of the UOC remain in the lower Lavra, despite the termination of the contract – the court case on appeal has been ongoing for three years.
Pope stamp presented in Kyiv on visit anniversary
Yelensky stated that Ukraine is fully open to a visit from Pope Leo XIV.
TRC claims detained father-of-three deacon of UOC volunteers to serve
Representatives of the military commissariat stated that the father of three children "did not exercise" his right to a deferment and chose to serve in the drone battalion himself.
Number of pilgrims to Athos grows by third over year
Since the beginning of 2026, more than 163,000 people have visited the Holy Mount, with Romanian citizens topping the list of pilgrims.