UOC convent burns down after airstrikes in Stepanivka

A series of airstrikes left St. Stephen's Convent of the UOC in Stepanivka completely destroyed by fire.

St. Stephen's Convent of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) in the village of Stepanivka, Donetsk region, burned to the ground following a series of airstrikes. Eighteen people, including clergy, nuns, and local residents, were evacuated from a shelter on the monastery grounds, the Proliska Humanitarian Mission reported on November 12, 2026.

According to police and volunteers, the convent was targeted with guided aerial bombs. The first strike occurred on November 4, followed by another attack during the night of November 10. Those at the monastery were sheltering when the bombs struck, and no one was injured. However, the resulting fire completely destroyed the monastery's buildings and property.

"Where prayers were heard until very recently, where people lived and served God, only charred remains, ashes, and ruins are left," Proliska representatives said.

Valeriy Davydenko, head of the Stepanivka administrative district, said the strikes destroyed the building housing the church where services were held, the nuns' cells, a residential house, a cowshed, and a pilgrims' guesthouse. The convent had occupied historic buildings dating back to 1902 since its establishment in 2006.

"The buildings dating back to 1902 were practically reduced to rubble. Four local residents whose homes had previously been destroyed were also living at the monastery," Davydenko said.

On November 11, all 18 people were evacuated from the convent to a transit center in Oleksandrivka, from where they are to be relocated to the Poltava region.

According to Davydenko, Stepanivka comes under regular shelling. Before the attack on the convent, 17 strikes had been recorded in the village. Of its former population of 700, only 18 residents remain.

As the UOJ previously reported, shelling also destroyed the Church of St. Anthony of the Caves in Antonivka.