Emergency crews contained a roof fire and began stabilizing damaged sections of the Uspensky Cathedral. Temporary coverings will protect artworks while experts assess restoration needs.
After a Russian drone struck the Dormition Cathedral, rescue and stabilization works began on the damaged areas. Immediately after the incident, units of the State Emergency Service arrived at the scene; the fire spread over more than 700 square meters of the roof and was localized and extinguished thanks to the efforts of the rescuers. Then specialists began dismantling the emergency structures to ensure the safety of visitors and staff of the reserve. Since June 16, rescuers have been carrying out emergency roofing over the damaged sections of the Dormition Cathedral’s roof.
Status of emergency works and plans for the future
At the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, emergency restoration work continues after the Russian attack on June 15, Kyiv, June 17, 2026.
This will protect the monument from precipitation and prevent further destruction of the paintings, iconostases, and other decorative elements. Work is ongoing daily, but its pace is affected by weather conditions and timely delivery of necessary materials.
This will protect the monument from precipitation and prevent further destruction of the paintings, iconostases and other decorative elements. Work continues daily, but its pace is affected by weather conditions and timely delivery of the necessary materials
– Press Service of the National Reserve “Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra”
Conservation will truly allow us to safely endure the winter. It will be a structure that reliably safeguards the cathedral from external factors. At the same time, in the future it will be necessary to carry out a comprehensive restoration program – not only on the roof, but also on the façades, in the interior decorations and iconostases
– Ivan Yahovenko
The reserve emphasizes that the emergency roof covering is not conservation of the monument. The decision on conservation and further restoration will be made after inspecting the object and assessing the damage. “Conservation will truly allow us to safely endure the winter. It will be a structure that reliably safeguards the cathedral from external factors. At the same time, in the future it will be necessary to carry out a comprehensive restoration program – not only on the roof, but also on the façades, in the interior decorations and iconostases,” noted the Deputy Director General for Legal Affairs and Preservation of Cultural Heritage at the National Reserve “Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra,” Ivan Yahovenko.
In general, the results of the survey will form the basis for the development of project documentation and the subsequent restoration of the damaged objects.