Kremlin often speaks of defending Orthodox values. Yet Russian missiles continue to strike and destroy churches, monasteries, and sacred sites across Ukraine.
Overnight, Russia once again revealed its real intentions and values. Its attack on the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, one of the most important sites in the Christian world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, seriously damaged the Dormition Cathedral, an 11th-century sacred landmark. This is not just an attack on Ukraineโs spiritual identity. It is an attack on our shared human heritage.
When civilians are killed and cultural and religious landmarks are targeted, the aim is not only to destroy lives and buildings, but also to erase memory, identity, and culture. Russia must be held accountable for these crimes, including the acts of cultural genocide. We call on our partners to increase pressure on Russia and ensure that these crimes do not go unpunished.