Russia accused Ukraine of striking the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra
Russia’s Permanent Delegation to UNESCO stated that the Russian Federation allegedly adheres to the provisions of the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property and does not target civilian infrastructure. The statement was published in response to reports of a strike on the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
The statement, cited by the Russian side, claims that on the night of June 15, Russian troops allegedly struck defense and industrial facilities in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Dnipro.
The statement from the Russian Federation’s Permanent Mission to UNESCO claims that the damage to the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra complex was allegedly caused by a missile strike from the U.S. Patriot air defense system.
The statement also emphasizes that Russia “strictly adheres to its obligations” under the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.
Statements by the Russian side regarding the nature of the strikes and responsibility for damage to cultural sites have repeatedly been refuted by Ukraine and its international partners.
Ukrainian officials have consistently emphasized that Russian strikes systematically damage civilian infrastructure, particularly cultural heritage sites.
Earlier, the head of the OCU called the Russian strike on the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra a crime against Christianity
Russia claimed to have struck a dozen Ukrainian factories, terminals, and airfields during a nighttime bombardment
Ukraine is initiating urgent procedures with UNESCO over the Russian strike on the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra
Following the destruction of the Lavra, Russia is spreading its usual disinformation about Ukraine’s allegedly ineffective air defense.
The Russian military’s attack on the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and the damage to the Assumption Cathedral sparked a wave of outrage online. Users recalled previous statements by Russian propagandist Margarita Simonyan that Moscow would allegedly not strike Orthodox holy sites. The latest shelling of Kyiv has prompted criticism of such claims as part of Russian propaganda.
