Russia destroys sacred site

A historic Ukrainian monastery was destroyed by fire on Saturday after Russian artillery allegedly targeted the wooden structure.

The historic Saints Monastery of the Svyatogorsk Lavra’s current building, erected in 1912, was burned beyond repair after invading Russian forces concentrated their bombardments in the eastern part of the country with artillery and airstrikes.

The site of the sprawling, 16th-century monastery, is regarded as one of Ukraine’s holiest Orthodox Christian sites. It sits on the bank of the Siverskiy Donets River, and has been hit several times previously during the war, most recently on Wednesday, when three monks were killed.

In his nightly video address Saturday, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of “deliberately and systematically destroying Ukrainian culture and its historical heritage, along with social infrastructure like housing and everything needed for normal life.”

Zelenskyy said 113 churches have been damaged or destroyed during the invasion, including some that survived the battles of World War II.

 

The fire at the monastery was first reported by Ukrainian journalist Agath Gorski, who also posted a video of the blaze on Twitter.

“The wooden All Saints Monastery of the Svyatogorsk Lavra in Donetsk region is on fire due to Russian shelling! The Lavra dates back to the 1500s. Second time Russia shells it. This is yet another act of Russian barbarism. For them, nothing is sacred,” the journalist wrote.

TGorski also tweeted a second image of the monastery on fire from hromadske.

Ironically, the monastery is a religious institute under the protection of the Moscow Patriarchate, which has continued to side with Russian President Vladimir Putin after the Russian invasion, according to Fox News.

Western military analysts said Russia was devoting significant troop strength and firepower to what British officials called a “creeping advance” in the Donbas region.

“The combined use of air and artillery strikes has been a key factor in Russia’s recent tactical successes in the region,” the UK Ministry of Defense said in a Saturday assessment. The ministry warned that after launching so many guided missiles, Russia was employing unguided missiles that have “almost certainly caused substantial collateral damage and civilian casualties.”

(With inputs from CBN News, AP; Picture Courtesy: hromadske)