During its attack on Kyiv, Russia damaged St. Sophia Cathedral, one of Ukraine's oldest churches

Since the start of the full-scale war, the russian army has destroyed or damaged a number of Ukraine's historical heritage sites. An ancient temple, which is a landmark of Kyiv, has been hit by a new attack. Find out what condition the cathedral is in now

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On the night of 10 June, the russian army launched one of the most powerful air strikes on Kyiv since the start of the full-scale war. The attack damaged one of Ukraine's oldest churches, St. Sophia Cathedral.

Details of the attack on Kyiv on 10 June

Throughout the night, Kyiv residents heard explosions as the russian army attacked the Ukrainian capital with over a hundred drones and several missiles, including ballistic ones.

It should be noted that the country's Air Force reported shooting down 277 drones and all missiles.

The main target of the strike was Kyiv.

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Attack on St. Sophia Cathedral

‘Last night, the enemy struck again at the very heart of our identity. St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, a shrine that has survived for centuries and symbolises the birth of our statehood, has been damaged. The blast wave destroyed the cornice on the main apse of this national monument,’ wrote Ukrainian Minister of Culture Mykola Tochitsky.

The ‘Sofia Kyivska’ reserve reported that the strike occurred on 10 June 2025 at 4:40 a.m.

As a result of the powerful blast wave, the plastered cornice of the central apse on the eastern facade of St. Sophia Cathedral, an 11th-century architectural monument included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, was damaged.

Specialists from the reserve, together with the investigative team of the Shevchenkivskyi Police Department, conducted a visual inspection and recorded the condition of the site.

"The interior of the monument was not damaged, but any vibration from the explosions poses a serious threat to the preservation of its structures. St. Sophia Cathedral is constantly at high risk due to regular hostile attacks on the capital," the reserve said.

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About St. Sophia Cathedral

St. Sophia Cathedral is one of the most valuable monuments and is considered the main temple of the country. It is now a museum, and services are rarely held there.

According to chronicles, it was built in 1037 by Prince Yaroslav the Wise on the site where he defeated the Pecheneg army.

Originally built in the Byzantine style, modelled on the Cathedral of Saint Sophia in Constantinople.

The cathedral was damaged. In the 17th-18th centuries, it was restored on the initiative of Hetman Mazepa, which significantly changed its appearance; now it is an example of Ukrainian Baroque.

It is one of the few buildings in the capital that has survived since the times of Kievan Rus.

Other damaged cultural sites

Tochytskyi also reported that the Odesa Film Studio was damaged during the shelling.

‘Pavilions, warehouses, sets and vehicles were damaged. The sets for the film ’Dovzhenko,‘ a national project about the most famous Ukrainian director, were completely destroyed,’ the minister added.

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