In Kyiv, a critically important stage in saving one of the main symbols of Ukrainian statehood and culture has been completed. Rescuers from the State Emergency Service (SES) have fully executed the plan for emergency repair of the roof of the Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, which was damaged as a result of Russian shelling.
Conclusion of the First Phase: Protection from Destruction
As of June 23, the priority work on restoring the roof has been completed at 100%. This was the result of the intense work of specialists who remained at the site for over a week. The main task set for the rescuers was to protect the unique historical building from weather conditions as quickly as possible and prevent further destruction of the structures.
Today, emergency work directly on the roof has ceased. However, the process of eliminating the consequences of the attack inside the building continues. To combat the increased humidity caused by the roof damage, rescuers have deployed special equipment. As the head of the SES, Andriy Danik, clarified, thermal guns are working around the clock at the site to dry out the building structures and interior rooms.
Working Under Threat
The restoration of the Dormition Cathedral, founded in the 11th century and restored in the late 1990s, became a task of increased complexity. Every meter of the territory of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra possesses colossal cultural and spiritual value, which placed special responsibility on the rescuers. The work was carried out in extremely difficult conditions, under the constant threat of repeated enemy strikes.
To implement this large-scale operation, a powerful grouping of forces was deployed. More than 100 rescuers from various specialized SES units participated in eliminating the consequences of the attack. The head of the department, Andriy Danik, thanked the entire personnel for their professionalism and dedication to the cause of saving Ukraine's invaluable heritage.
Chronicle of Destruction
The cause of the urgent restoration work was a massive attack by Russian troops on the capital of Ukraine on the night of June 15, 2026. During the strike, one of the shells landed in close proximity to the reserve. The shockwave and flying debris caused significant damage to the Dormition Cathedral, which is the main temple of the Lavra complex. Now that the cathedral's roof has been restored, specialists are moving on to the next stage — full restoration and returning the temple to its original appearance.
