A Russian strike overnight has damaged St. Sophia Cathedral, a historic landmark in central Kyiv and one of Ukraine’s most treasured sites. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy strongly condemned the attack, calling it “unacceptable and catastrophic.” Zelenskiy reported that the explosion caused part of the cathedral’s facade to collapse. The 11th-century cathedral, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, holds immense religious and cultural significance. In his nightly address, Zelenskiy said, “For anyone who values history and Christianity, even the risk of harming St. Sophia is disastrous and intolerable. But Russia, obsessed with drones and destruction, seems to thrive on catastrophe.”

Ukraine’s Culture Minister, Mykola Tochytskyi, described the attack as another blow to the country’s identity, calling the cathedral “the soul of Ukraine.” He confirmed that the blast wave damaged the cornice of the cathedral’s main apse, with fragments of plaster seen scattered on the ground. This marks the first time since the war began that the cathedral has sustained damage, said Vadym Kyrylenko, deputy director of the site. He noted that drones flying low over Kyiv during air raids pose a continued threat, sometimes nearly grazing the 76-meter-high bell tower.

St. Sophia Cathedral, known for its white walls, green rooftops, and golden domes, was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage list in 1990 and symbolizes the "new Constantinople" in the region. Although no severe structural harm was reported, experts will assess and repair the damage. UNESCO had already placed the cathedral on its list of World Heritage in Danger due to risks from Russia’s ongoing military actions, which threaten the site’s ancient mosaics, frescoes, and overall structural integrity. “This isn’t just a Ukrainian treasure,” Kyrylenko said. “It belongs to the entire world and is protected by the global community.”