Tower of St. John the Hut-Dweller damaged in Russian attack on Lavra
The historic Tower of St. John the Hut-Dweller on the grounds of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra was damaged in the shelling of Kyiv.
Russia’s massive attack on Kyiv on the night of June 15, 2026, caused fires at structures on the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra territory. According to Maksym Ostapenko, director general of the reserve, the enemy carried out two targeted strikes on the monastery grounds. The second Geran-2 kamikaze drone hit the 300-year-old stone tower on Mazepa Street and also damaged the neighboring Mystetskyi Arsenal building.
The Tower of St. John the Hut-Dweller is a unique fortification structure that forms part of the architectural ensemble of the shrine and is protected by UNESCO. The explosion destroyed part of the ancient stonework, and a fire broke out at the impact site.
The tower was built in 1698 at the expense of Hetman Ivan Mazepa as a watchtower together with the monastery’s stone walls. It was named in honor of St. John the Hut-Dweller, the hetman’s heavenly patron. In 2024, specialists completed a full restoration of the roof of this architectural monument.
As the UOJ reported, St. Nicholas Church in Dnipro was damaged in an overnight Russian shelling.
