Massive Fire at Kyiv Monastery After Russian Strikes, Says Metropolitan Epiphanius: Revenge for Ukraine’s Resistance.

Metropolitan Epiphanius Speaks Out on Attacks Against Kyiv

According to Novyny.live: Russia’s repeated bombardments of Kyiv are acts of revenge, according to Metropolitan Epiphanius, who urged Ukrainians to maintain spiritual resilience. He argued that when the aggressor cannot seize territory, it instead seeks to destroy it. The shelling of Kyiv has now persisted for over four years, highlighting the protracted nature of the conflict.

Assault on the Kyiv Region

On June 15, 2026, Russian forces launched a large-scale combined assault on the Kyiv region, damaging several historic landmarks. The Dormition Cathedral within the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra (Monastery of the Caves) suffered severe damage, sparking a major fire on its roof that spread across roughly 800 square meters. A subsequent wave of attacks struck at least five nationally significant heritage sites.

As a result, the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra complex has been closed to visitors indefinitely. This year marks the 975th anniversary of the monastery, and despite the ongoing bombardment, Metropolitan Epiphanius emphasized the importance of spiritual fortitude for Ukrainians.

If we remain spiritually strong and continue to fight, we will undoubtedly achieve victory. Metropolitan Epiphanius

The situation in Ukraine remains tense, and calls for unity and endurance resonate particularly strongly amid ongoing aggression.

The attacks on Kyiv and its historic landmarks reflect not only military aggression but also an attempt to undermine Ukraine’s cultural identity. The destruction of such vital sites as the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra symbolizes the aggressor’s effort to erase the spiritual and cultural foundations of the Ukrainian people. Closing the monastery to visitors underscores the war’s severe impact on the nation’s cultural heritage, highlighting the need to defend not just territory but also national identity. Metropolitan Epiphanius’s message of spiritual resilience becomes a crucial element in Ukrainians’ struggle for independence and the preservation of their cultural legacy amid aggression.