UNESCO has expressed deep concern over the situation of the Kyiv World Heritage Site : St. Sophia Cathedral and related monastic buildings, Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, following the missile attack launched by the Russian Federation on June 10, 2025. The damage to the eastern façade of St. Sophia Cathedral in Kiev is part of a wider series of attacks that, according to official statements by the UN agency, have affected numerous Ukrainian cities causing civilian casualties and damage to cultural and educational infrastructure. The incident prompted UNESCO to conduct an on-site assessment.
The agency’s representative in Ukraine, together with the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator in the country, paid a visit to the Cathedral of St. Sophia. The purpose of the inspection was to assess the condition of the site and discuss options for action, including a thorough structural analysis and activation of emergency conservation measures. The first inspection found damage to the eastern facade of the building, one of the most significant of Ukraine’s architectural and religious heritage.
St. Sophia Cathedral, dating back to the early 11th century, represents one of the cornerstones of Eastern Christian architecture and monumental art. Any damage, UNESCO warns, could irreversibly compromise the integrity and authenticity of the property, further aggravating the cultural toll of the ongoing conflict.UNESCO condemns any attack that endangers the world’s cultural heritage, stressing the obligations of member states that are signatories to the 1972 World Heritage Convention and the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.
These conventions expressly prohibit any deliberate act that may cause harm to the cultural and natural heritage located in the territory of another state party. Within this legal framework, the attack that damaged the Cathedral of St. Sophia is considered a serious violation. The risks to which Ukrainian heritage is exposed are not limited to Kiev. As a result of the conflict that began in 2022, the World Heritage Committee has placed three important sites in Ukraine on the endangered heritage list: in addition to the capital, they include the historic city of Lviv and the historic center of Odessa. The decision was also made due to the cumulative impact of shock waves, which can compromise structural stability, decorative materials and pictorial cycles. Beginning in 2022, UNESCO initiated an assistance program targeting the St. Sophia National Conservation Area, including support from Japan. Activities have included developing an emergency preparedness plan, implementing advanced digital building documentation systems, and training local staff to deal with crisis situations. As part of its cultural emergency response, UNESCO also mobilized the World Heritage Fund to finance the restoration of the Cathedral’s monumental paintings, which are considered among the most outstanding examples of medieval religious art in the area.
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| UNESCO: "Concern over damage to St. Sophia Cathedral after attack on Kiev" |
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