Due to a large-scale russian attack, cultural heritage sites, infrastructure, and arts education institutions in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Dnipro were damaged. UNESCO World Heritage sites, nationally significant monuments, museums, cultural institutions, and arts education facilities were affected. 

The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra sustained significant destruction  –  a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Ukraine’s most important spiritual and cultural landmarks. A russian drone struck the altar area of the Assumption Cathedral – the Stefanivskyi side chapel. As a result of the attack, both the exterior and interior of the cathedral, as well as adjacent buildings of the complex, were damaged.

“Due to the russian strike on the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, the Assumption Cathedral — a church whose history dates back to the 11th century — caught fire. This is one of the largest russian crimes against Christian culture to date,” commented President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

On the territory of the Lavra, the Treasury of the National Museum of the History of Ukraine, the Museum of Books and Printing of Ukraine, the National Library of History of Ukraine, the National Academy of Managerial Staff of Culture and Arts, and the repository of the National Museum of Folk Architecture and Life of Ukraine were also damaged. Windows and doors in the buildings were shattered. There were no casualties or injuries. Damage assessment and documentation of the consequences are ongoing.

In Kyiv, russians also struck the Oleksandr Dovzhenko National Film Studio — one of the oldest film studios in Ukraine. The strike caused a fire and damaged the costume workshop and other studio buildings. The largest and oldest costume collection in Ukraine was destroyed — around 100,000 costumes and more than three million clothing items used in Ukrainian film production and preserved over decades as part of the country’s cinematic heritage. Several other studio buildings and vehicles on the premises were also damaged. This is the second attack on the studio this month, indicating a deliberate targeting of Ukrainian cinema. 

The state enterprise “Ukrkinokhronika”, one of Ukraine’s oldest documentary film studios, was also damaged. For 95 years, it has documented key events in Ukraine’s history and preserved invaluable cinematic heritage. The blast wave damaged buildings, shattered windows, and caused material losses.

The National Cultural, Art and Museum Complex “Mystetskyi Arsenal” was significantly damaged. The National Palace of Arts “Ukraine” was also affected, with broken windows and façade damage.

In Kharkiv, a drone strike hit the Kharkiv Art Museum — one of the country’s most important art institutions. The museum building, a locally designated architectural monument, sustained significant damage.

The most valuable items had been evacuated at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, but part of the collection remained in storage. Preliminary reports indicate that some museum items were damaged or destroyed due to the attack and resulting fire. Experts are currently assessing the full extent of the losses, including potential damage to a substantial portion of Soviet-period graphic works — approximately up to 1,000 pieces out of 5,000 stored. Part of the Soviet-era painting collection, numbering around 2,000 works, was also affected by water damage. In addition, ten paintings from a private collection held in temporary storage were destroyed by fire. 

Museum staff and specialists are taking urgent measures to rescue, conserve, and relocate the affected items to safe storage. 

The Ivan Karpenko-Karyi Kyiv National University of Theatre, Cinema and Television was also damaged, with all windows in the building at 18 Yevhena Konovaltsia Street shattered. Damage assessment is ongoing.

In Dnipro, the Dnipropetrovsk House of Organ and Chamber Music was damaged — a national architectural monument known as the Briansk (Mykolaiv) Church. The shockwave damaged this historic building listed in the State Register of Immovable Monuments of Ukraine. Preliminary reports indicate damage to windows and doors, with interior spaces covered in broken glass. The interior decoration of the concert hall and audience seating were also damaged.

In addition, roof damage to the domes was recorded, with parts of the metal covering torn off by the blast wave. The institution’s main musical instrument — the organ located inside the monument — was also affected.

Specialists are currently inspecting the building and the instrument. After the assessment is completed, the full scope of damage will be determined, along with priority steps for preservation and restoration.

“Today’s attack bears all the hallmarks of a deliberate strike on Ukrainian culture, memory, and identity. The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra — a world-renowned shrine — came under fire, as did the Oleksandr Dovzhenko National Film Studio, the Kharkiv Art Museum, and numerous cultural and educational institutions. russia seeks to burn our memory, our history, and the evidence of who we are. The destroyed costume collection of the Dovzhenko Studio, damaged museums, cultural and educational institutions — these are losses that concern not only Ukraine. This is an attack on world cultural heritage and an attempt to erase the cultural markers of the Ukrainian nation. We are documenting every act of destruction and working with international partners to protect and restore our cultural heritage”, stated Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy and Minister of Culture of Ukraine Tetyana Berezhna.

The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine calls on the international community to increase pressure on the russian federation and ensure accountability for crimes against Ukraine’s cultural heritage.

It also urges governments, international organizations, and partners to support the Ukraine Cultural Heritage Fund and joint international initiatives aimed at protecting and restoring cultural assets. The Fund works to rebuild cultural sites destroyed by russia. Protecting Ukraine’s cultural heritage today is also the protection of world cultural heritage.

According to the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, as of early June, russians have damaged 1,913 cultural heritage sites and 2,573 cultural infrastructure objects.

Donation account for private donors in Ukraine and abroad, as well as businesses and organizations in Ukraine.

The UCHF account for international organizations, institutions, and Ukraine’s partner countries:

Ukraine Cultural Heritage Fund

The full registered name of the Fund: Ukraine Cultural Heritage Fund ASBL

Registered office address: Sq. du Val de la Cambre 2, 1050 Ixelles, Belgique.

Banking information:

Account holder: Ukraine Cultural Heritage Fund ASBL

Bank: BNP Paribas Fortis

IBAN: BE15 0020 2181 2830

BIC / SWIFT: GEBABEBB Currency: EUR

Bank address: BNP Paribas SA/NV, Montagne du Parc 3, B-1000Brussels.

Tax/VAT statement: the contributions to the UCHF are not subject to VAT, in accordance with Article 44 of the Belgian VAT Code and applicable provisions for non-profitassociations (ASBL).

The contact information is as follows: phone number +41796540589, e-mail: [email protected].