Russian invaders damage monastery in Donbas
The Sviatohirsk Lavra, a major Orthodox Christian monastery in Donetsk Oblast, was damaged by nearby shelling by invading Russian forces on March 12, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church reported on its website.
The monastery premises, which contained living quarters for the monastery’s clergy, as well as evacuees from the nearby region, were damaged by blast waves from shelling. Nearly every window in the monastery was broken by the blasts.
According to Ukraine’s Center for Strategic Communications, a missile exploded 50 meters from the bridge connecting the right and left banks of the Siverskyi Donets River, which is located at the entrance to the Sviatohirsk Lavra.
Several people were wounded by the impact, and have been taken to a hospital in the town of Sviatohirsk, while the rest were provided with housing. Fortunately, there were no fatalities.
On the night of March 12-13, all evacuees and clergy had taken shelter in the monastery's cellars.
Currently, 520 evacuees, including 200 children, are being accommodated at the Sviatohirsk Lavra monastery.
In total, about 10,000 evacuees and local residents are staying in the town of Sviatohirsk.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
