Kyiv: In a sweeping night-time assault, Russian drones struck deep into the heart of Kyiv and Odesa, killing at least seven and injuring over a dozen, while inflicting damage on one of Ukraine’s most treasured spiritual landmarks—the 11th-century Cathedral of Holy Wisdom, also known as St. Sophia.
The five-hour onslaught on Tuesday, which saw over 315 drones unleashed across Ukraine, marked one of the largest aerial attacks on Kyiv since the war began, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. Amid the destruction, the ancient cathedral—an enduring symbol of Ukraine’s Christian heritage and a UNESCO World Heritage Site—sustained damage to its main apse cornice.
Ukraine’s Minister of Culture, Mykola Tochytskyi, confirmed the architectural impact on the historic structure, revered as the spiritual heart of Eastern Christianity. The cathedral traces its roots to the Christianization of Kyivan Rus under Grand Prince Volodymyr, and its construction in the 11th century remains a proud cultural and religious milestone.
Metropolitan Borys Gudziak, Archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, lamented the attack, saying, “This cathedral has weathered centuries of invasions and communist oppression. Its significance to Ukraine is comparable to that of Notre Dame in Paris or St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome—it's not just a building, but a symbol of national identity and spiritual resilience.”
He condemned the indiscriminate violence of the war, noting that thousands of schools, hospitals, and homes have been decimated since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. “Nothing is sacred in this war—not children, not hospitals, not churches,” Archbishop Gudziak said.
Relief agencies, including CNEWA (Catholic Near East Welfare Association), have provided over $3.5 million in humanitarian aid through partnerships with Ukrainian Catholic institutions and religious communities. Efforts include emergency food, shelter, psychological support, and medical assistance for the displaced and wounded.
Archbishop Gudziak called on the global community to intensify prayers and advocacy for “a just and enduring peace—one that upholds human dignity, defends cultural and religious heritage, and ensures the return of abducted Ukrainian children.”
The Ukrainian Council of Churches also issued a strong denunciation, labeling the assault on the cathedral as an affront to all civilized norms. They reported that 670 religious structures have been damaged or destroyed during the conflict, and that 60 clergy members have been killed, while others remain detained in Russian custody.
Vadym Kyrylenko, deputy director general of the heritage site, confirmed that experts would assess and begin restoration work on the cathedral, which was previously designated an endangered cultural site by UNESCO in 2023 due to the risks posed by the war.
In Odesa, accompanying drone attacks also struck a maternity hospital and nearby residential buildings. Meanwhile, Moscow claimed the barrage was in retaliation for Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian air bases earlier in June.
As the war drags into its third year, the damage to St. Sophia Cathedral underscores not just the physical toll on Ukraine’s cities, but the spiritual and cultural wounds inflicted by an unrelenting conflict. The cathedral’s ancient mosaics and frescoes—preserved through centuries—now face a modern threat that tests the endurance of a nation’s soul.