Wounded Sviatohirsk Lavra novice describes attackers
The Sviatohirsk Lavra brethren were attacked by men wearing Ukrainian Armed Forces uniforms.
Three men wearing Ukrainian Armed Forces uniforms carried out the attack on the brethren of the Sviatohirsk Lavra, according to novice Andriy Kyriienko, who was wounded in the assault. He spoke about the incident to Anatoliy Shariy’s Telegram channel.
Kyriienko said that at the time of the attack he was alone on the upper grounds of the Lavra near the church, by the staircase, sitting on a bench.
Three servicemen approached him. He stressed that they were not the Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel normally stationed in the upper part of the monastery. The three were in full combat gear and, in his view, looked like members of a special unit. “Definitely some kind of special forces,” he said.
When they approached him, the men said, “Glory to Ukraine.” Andriy remained silent. They repeated the phrase, and he replied, “Glory to our Lord God. Save and protect us.”
Kyriienko said they then began beating him. Wooden beams used for the railing along the descent were nearby, and one of the men took one and began striking him with it. Andriy grabbed hold of the beam in an attempt to stop the beating. According to him, the attacker then pulled a knife from his chest rig and began cutting his hands to force him to let go. Andriy released the beam and remained bent over, holding on to the railing.
He was then ordered to stand up. Kyriienko thought they were going to shoot him. Instead, he said, they stabbed him several times, including in a wound that damaged his lung, and he fell to the ground. According to his account, the men discussed for some time what to do with him before throwing him into a ravine, apparently expecting him to bleed to death.
Kyriienko said he survived by a miracle despite severe blood loss. About 40 minutes passed between the attack and the moment he was found, and during that time he repeatedly lost consciousness. He also said he heard gunshots after the attack.
He believes there may have been more victims. According to him, there was a small structure resembling a guard post near the upper church where a security guard had been stationed. Andriy does not know what happened to the man and fears that he may also have been harmed.
Andriy learned only later, in the hospital, that Monk Varsonofiy had been killed and Monk Hryhoriy wounded. Until then, he had believed that he was the only victim. He does not know exactly where Monk Hryhoriy was attacked. Despite his wounds, Andriy said, the monk managed to make his way down to the brethren on his own, after which Kyriienko himself was found. It is possible that before the attack Monk Hryhoriy had been inside the church with other monks, although Andriy has no definite information about this.
In addition to stab wounds and a damaged lung, Andriy suffered a traumatic brain injury. His condition is serious, but he is conscious.
Recall that the attack on the brethren of the Holy Dormition Sviatohirsk Lavra took place at around 11 a.m. on August 23, 2026, near St. Nicholas Church in the upper part of the monastery. Monk Varsonofiy was killed with a knife, and his face was mutilated beyond recognition. Monk Hryhoriy, whose lung was punctured with a knife, and novice Andriy were also wounded. Both remain in serious condition at a hospital in Kharkiv. Investigative and operational measures are underway, and the identities of the attackers had not been officially established at the time of publication.
