Russian strike on Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra: damage estimated at over 500 million hryvnias; restoration will take two years
The damage to the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra caused by Russian shelling has already exceeded 500 million hryvnias, and the full restoration of the damaged sites could take around two years. The Cathedral of the Dormition, the Kushnyk Tower and a further 17 buildings within the reserve have been hardest hit.
According to Censor.NET, citing Interfax-Ukraine, this was announced at a briefing by Maksym Ostapenko, Director-General of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve.
Damage to the Cathedral of the Dormition
"A huge amount of extremely important priority work has been carried out. All exhibits at risk of damage have been removed and saved. This was done within the first hour of our arrival," said Ostapenko.
He noted that over 80 per cent of the roof has been damaged, but most importantly, the emergency services managed to prevent the fire from spreading inside the cathedral.
He also stated that the building’s foundations remained undamaged, as the strike had hit the roof.
Ostapenko noted that, in addition to the Cathedral of the Dormition and Kushnik’s Tower – the main structures affected – a further 17 sites within the reserve had sustained various degrees of damage.
Damage assessment
"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 the elements required for further restoration, based on current prices and various options, and this figure will be refined," said the CEO.
According to him, the main costs will be incurred in constructing a new roof structure, restoring the domes, carrying out gilding work and repairing the damaged systems (electrical, lightning protection and ventilation).
When asked how long the restoration would take, Ostapenko noted that, according to experts’ estimates, "provided circumstances develop optimally and favourably, the restoration work could take around two years," he said.
Visitor access to the Lavra
According to him, the possibility of resuming visits to the sites of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra is currently being explored, along with which specific routes will be accessible to visitors during the restoration work.
As for services at the Cathedral of the Dormition, Ostapenko predicts that, once a temporary shelter has been erected, limited visits may begin in a few months’ time.
Meanwhile, Tetyana Berezhna, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy and Minister of Culture, recalled that the state-owned PrivatBank had allocated 2 million hryvnias of its own funds towards the restoration of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra reserve, and that the Naftogaz Group would 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 – Ired.)," added Ostapenko.
The Vicar of the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), Bishop Avraam, reported that an urgent evacuation had been organised of the shrine and liturgical objects, ancient icons, antiminsia and other sacred artefacts, which are of not only ecclesiastical but also national and universal value. They were successfully preserved. Furthermore, the cathedral’s iconostasis did not sustain significant damage.
