---
title: "Destruction of the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Yunakovka: The End of an Era for an Early Classicism Monument"
description: "In Yunakovka, Sumy region, Russian troops destroyed the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary — an outstanding architectural monument from the early 19th century. 🏛️🔥 The building, which stood for more than 200 years and survived world wars, was destroyed by guided aerial bombs. Only ruins remain of the church, which was depicted on the district's coat of arms."
date: 2026-06-04T14:28:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/destruction-of-the-church-of-the-nativity-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary-in-yunakovka
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Destruction of the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Yunakovka: The End of an Era for an Early Classicism Monument

![Destroyed Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Yunakovka: ruins of an early classicism monument under scaffolding](https://xab.info/media/2026/06/04/unichtozhenie-hrama-rozhdestva-presvyatoy-bogoroditsy-v-yunakovke/unichtozhenie-hrama-rozhdestva-presvyatoy-bogoroditsy-v-yunakovke-1.webp)

In the village of Yunakovka in the Sumy region, an event occurred that became a tragedy for Ukrainian cultural heritage. Russian troops destroyed the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary — one of the region's outstanding architectural monuments. Only ruins remain of the shrine, which stood for more than two centuries.

### History Frozen in Stone

The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built in the early 19th century. According to historians, construction was completed in 1806. It is likely that financing was provided by Prince and Chamberlain Mikhail Golitsyn. The structure is considered one of the finest examples of the early Classicism era not only in the Sumy region but in Ukraine as a whole.

The architectural appearance of the church was unique: a cross-domed, two-tiered building with a central dome and four additional ones. The building's features included columned porticos, a complex system of vaults, and rich decorative interiors adorned with frescoes and stucco. The church was such a well-known landmark that its image was used on the coat of arms of the Sumy district.

### Chronicle of Destruction

The shrine survived more than 200 years of history, revolutionary upheavals, and World War II, but it did not withstand the Russian invasion. The church was repeatedly shelled from the beginning of the full-scale war. The building was ultimately destroyed as a result of enemy strikes on Yunakovka, which has been under constant fire control by the Russian army for a long time.

Damages began to be recorded as early as the autumn of 2024. At that time, as a result of Russian strikes, wooden scaffolding around the structure burned down, one of the domes was pierced, and the bell tower and towers were damaged. However, subsequent shelling led to the almost complete destruction of the historical monument. According to the publication "Kordon.Media," there are practically no surviving buildings left in Yunakovka itself. The local church was repeatedly hit by guided aerial bombs.

### Life in Ruins

Architect and activist Igor Titarenko reported that before the start of the full-scale invasion, the church continued to operate in the basement part of the building — the so-called winter church. At the same time, the main structure was undergoing restoration. Now, only traces of destruction remain of this process.

The destruction of the church in Yunakovka became part of the general picture of the barbaric destruction of infrastructure in the region. RBC-Ukraine previously reported on shelling in the Sumy region, as a result of which public infrastructure facilities, transport, and civilian homes suffered significant damage. In particular, the Russians recently destroyed the railway station building in Shostka.