Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russian artillery had “destroyed” 113 churches during the “full-scale war” with Ukraine up to that point.
Zelensky described the monasteries that were destroyed by the Russian army during its occupation of Ukraine. He said, “Among them are the ancient ones – those that withstood World War II, but did not withstand the Russian occupation.” He said that Skete of All Saints of the Sviatohirsk Lavra was rebuilt in 2001. June 10 would be another anniversary of its reconstruction.
On Saturday, CNN reported that All Saints Church in Sviatorsky Lavra had been “destroyed” by Russian shells.
Zelensky noted in his address that it is not the first time that Russian forces have shelled the monastery and that three monks were killed by the shelling on Wednesday. Worship services are forced to be held in the basement, according to the President. The sounds of incoming artillery are constant in the Lavra, he said.
Zelensky mentioned Sviatohirsk Lavra to belong to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is still regarded by Moscow to be tied with the Russian Orthodox Church, but even this does not thwart the Russian army.
In light of the fact that the Russian Orthodox Church supports the aggression against Ukraine, candidate Zelensky called on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to draw conclusions. He said that if Moscow gave just one order, then “the Russian army can stop burning churches,” “the Russian army can stop destroying cities,” and “the Russian army can stop killing children.”