On the night of June 15, Kyiv was subjected to a massive shelling. As a result of the attack carried out by Russian military forces, the Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra — one of the main Christian shrines of Ukraine — sustained damage. The incident caused a wide resonance, and the international community began to react to the events.
Beijing's Position: Peaceful Dialogue as the Only Way
Lin Jian, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC, commented on the situation during a briefing for journalists. The diplomat confirmed that China's position regarding the conflict remains unchanged. According to Jian, Beijing continues to consider peaceful dialogue and negotiations as the only viable way to end the crisis.
"On the issue of the 'Ukrainian crisis', China's position has been and remains consistent and clear," the MFA representative stated. He called on all parties to make maximum efforts to create conditions for a political settlement of the conflict.
Details of the Attack and Consequences
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russian occupiers deliberately struck the center of Kyiv, where the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and the "Mystetskyi Arsenal" are located. According to him, "Geran-2" attack drones were used for the strike.
Fragments of the enemy drone's fuselage and engine were found at the site of the impact. The strike hit the Stefanovsky chapel of the Dormition Cathedral, leading to serious destruction of the historic building.
Reaction of Church Hierarchs
The attack on the holy site provoked an emotional reaction from the leadership of religious organizations. Epiphanius, the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, condemned the strike on one of the country's main spiritual centers, calling it an act of barbarism.