On June 15, 2026, the roof of the Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra caught fire after a Russian drone attack on Kyiv. In January 2026, the centuries-old monastery complex had already been damaged in Russian military operations — the first such harm to the Lavra since World War II. The monastery has been destroyed and rebuilt many times, yet this week’s mangling is exceptional, and UNESCO and European political leaders have already responded.