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Up to seven individuals lost their lives and 13 others sustained injuries in a Russian drone attack on Kyiv and Odesa on June 10. The assault, described by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as “one of the biggest” strikes in the ongoing three-year conflict, also damaged the historic Holy Wisdom Cathedral, or St. Sophia Cathedral.
The attack lasted five hours, during which Russia deployed over 315 drones. Ukrainian Culture Minister Mykola Tochytskyi confirmed damage to the cathedral's cornice on its main apse. The cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and holds significant religious importance for both Catholics and Orthodox Christians tracing back to ancient Rus.
Metropolitan Borys A. Gudziak of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia remarked, “Last night’s massive drone attack — the largest of the war — struck at the heart of Ukraine: the Cathedral of the Holy Wisdom.” He compared its spiritual significance to other renowned religious sites worldwide.
Gudziak criticized Russia’s continued attacks, highlighting that more than 4,000 schools and nearly 1,600 medical facilities have been affected since February 2022. The Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA) has been working with various church groups in Ukraine to provide essential aid totaling over $3.5 million.
Archbishop Gudziak urged prayers for peace that ensures safety for innocent civilians and preservation of cultural identity. The Ukrainian Council of Churches condemned the attack on St. Sophia Cathedral and called for global intervention against Russian actions.
Reports indicate that since Russia's full-scale invasion began, hundreds of churches have been destroyed or damaged, with clergy members facing persecution in occupied territories. Vadym Kyrylenko from St. Sophia stated inspections would follow to assess damages caused by this first-time incident during the invasion.
In addition to damage in Kyiv, Odesa saw destruction including an emergency medical station's administrative building and harm to a maternity hospital due to Russian strikes targeting central and western Ukraine.
Russia claimed these attacks were retaliatory measures following earlier Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian air bases. Prior warnings about potential threats to St. Sophia had prompted calls for prayer from Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk who sought divine wisdom against such acts.
The cathedral remains noted for its well-preserved ancient interiors with unique mosaics and frescoes dating back to the 11th century as highlighted by UNESCO World Heritage site documentation.
This report was initially published by ONE Magazine through CNEWA-Pontifical Mission collaboration with OSV News contributions.
