Restoration could take two years: the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra has suffered over 500 million hryvnias in damage from shelling
16 June 16:19
The damage to the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra caused by Russian shelling exceeds 500 million hryvnias, and restoration and reconstruction work could take about two years, said Maksym Ostapenko, director general of the national reserve. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian", citing “Interfax-Ukraine.”
“A huge amount of extremely important priority work has been completed. All exhibits at risk of damage have been dismantled and saved. This was done within the first hour after our arrival,” Ostapenko said at a press conference on Tuesday in Kyiv.
He noted that more than 80% of the roof was damaged, but most importantly, emergency services managed to prevent the fire from spreading inside the cathedral.
He also said that the building’s foundation was not damaged, as the strike hit the roof.
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Ostapenko noted that in addition to the Assumption Cathedral and the Kushchnyk Tower, which were the main structures affected, a total of 17 other sites within the reserve sustained various types of damage.
“The damage is currently being assessed, and we can already say with certainty that it exceeds 500 million hryvnias, but work will continue on a comprehensive analysis of all elements necessary for further restoration, based on current market prices and various possibilities, and this figure will be refined,” the CEO stated.
According to him, the bulk of the funds will be needed to construct a new roof structure, restore the domes, carry out gilding work, and repair damaged utility systems (electrical, lightning protection, and ventilation).
When asked how long the restoration would take, Ostapenko noted that, according to experts’ estimates, assuming optimal and favorable conditions, the restoration work could take about two years, he said.
According to him, the possibility of resuming visits to the sites of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra is currently being explored, as well as which specific routes will be accessible to visitors during the restoration work.
As for religious services at the Assumption Cathedral, Ostapenko predicts that after the construction of a temporary shelter, limited visits may begin in a few months.
In turn, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy and Minister of Culture Tetiana Berezhna noted that the state-owned PrivatBank has allocated 2 million hryvnias of its own funds for the restoration of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra reserve,” and that the Naftogaz Group will provide financial assistance for the Lavra’s restoration.
“We hope that in the coming days, more Ukrainian businesses will take note of this opportunity (to help with the restoration – IF-U).”
As reported, five people were killed and 35 injured as a result of the Russian attack on Kyiv on Monday night. At least 26 residential buildings were damaged, and the roof of the Assumption Cathedral at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra caught fire. In particular, a strike by a Russian Shahed drone caused significant damage to the exterior and interior of the Assumption Cathedral, and neighboring historic structures were also damaged, including parts of the Lavra’s fortification complex and the Ivan Kushchnyk Tower.
The Vicar of the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), Bishop Avraam, reported that an emergency evacuation of the shrine and liturgical objects, ancient icons, antiminsia, and other sacred items—which represent not only ecclesiastical but also national and universal value—was organized. They were successfully preserved. The cathedral’s iconostasis also did not sustain significant damage.
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