Over a year and nine months of active hostilities, Russian troops have systematically destroyed Ukraine’s religious sanctuaries, delivering devastating strikes on the country’s spiritual centers
According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale aggression against our state, more than 600 religious sites have been destroyed or significantly damaged by the occupiers, marking a tragic record of destruction in this sphere in Ukraine’s modern history. Delving into these distressing statistics, the Head of State, during his annual address to Ukrainians ahead of Easter, described these losses as a direct manifestation of the deliberate destructive policy of the aggressors, who intentionally attack not only infrastructure but also the spiritual values of the Ukrainian people. He stated that, beyond the destruction of churches and prayer houses, the Russian military inflicted the most terrible consequences on the clergy — 67 clergy members, including priests, pastors, and monks, have been killed or subjected to brutal torture in the occupied territories. Zelensky expressed clear outrage at these war crimes, calling them “not just collateral losses,” but fundamental values being destroyed under the pressure of Russian aggression. During his speech, he provided concrete examples to highlight the scale of the tragedy: one missile struck the altar of an Orthodox cathedral in Odesa, destroying the holy site and leaving ruins behind; artillery shelling mercilessly damaged churches, turning prayer houses into burning ruins caused by the explosions of Russian bombs. He emphasized that already 640 religious sites have been destroyed, predominantly Christian, and reaffirmed Ukraine’s unwavering confidence in the urgent need to restore these sanctuaries. “We will rebuild all of them,” Zelensky assured, stressing the steadfast belief of Ukrainian society in the recovery of spiritual heritage even in the most difficult times. The leader of the country underlined that the destruction of religious sanctuaries and the annihilation of Ukraine’s spiritual life are not only war crimes but also a blow to the very heart of the Ukrainian people, which demonstrates its resilience, faith, and steadfastness in the face of aggression. In wartime with the countries of the aggressor, Ukrainian churches, monasteries, and prayer houses become symbols of an unbreakable spiritual nation that will not allow its centuries-old traditions to be erased from historical memory.