Russian strike damages St Catherine's Cathedral in Kherson – photo, video
A large-scale Russian attack on the city of Kherson on 20 December has damaged St Catherine's Cathedral, a significant architectural landmark and one of the city's oldest Orthodox churches.
Source: Heorhii Huliaiev, a priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, on Facebook
Quote: "All morning the Russian occupiers have been firing Grad rockets and artillery on Kherson. The historic 18th-century St Catherine's Cathedral."
Details: Huliaiev also shared photos and videos of the damage caused to the cathedral's dome by the Russian attack.
Russia began its large-scale attack on the city of Kherson at 05:00, targeting residential areas, social infrastructure and critical facilities. Explosions were heard across all districts of the city. Houses and apartment buildings, power lines, an educational institution and a hospital were damaged. Two deaths have been reported so far – two men aged 60 and 75.
About St Catherine's Cathedral:
St Catherine's Cathedral is one of the oldest Orthodox churches in the city of Kherson. Built between 1781 and 1786 on the ruins of the former wooden St Michael’s Church using Inhulets limestone, which gives it its distinctive pale yellow colour, it is a notable example of neoclassical architecture.
In the 18th century, a burial site for Russian soldiers who perished during the Russo-Turkish War of 1787-1791 was established outside the cathedral. Grigory Potemkin, a prominent Russian military leader, was also buried there, but Russian troops allegedly took Potemkin’s remains with them when they retreated from Kherson in October 2022.
This is not the first time Russia has attacked St Catherine's Cathedral. Last August, the church caught fire after being shelled. When firefighters from the State Emergency Service arrived, Russian forces immediately shelled the cathedral again.
Support UP or become our patron!
