Abbot of Esphigmenou witnesses damage from Russian drone strike near Historic Kyiv Monastery

Archimandrite Bartholomew, Abbot of Esphigmenou Monastery on Mount Athos, visited the site of a Russian drone attack in Kyiv and witnessed firsthand the damage caused near the historic Monastery of St. Theodosius.

During the Russian assault of June 15, 2026, which struck the Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv Lavra, a second hostile drone reportedly headed toward the Monastery of St. Theodosius.

According to local accounts, the drone collided with the cross atop a nearby dome, causing it to change course before crashing into the roof of an adjacent building.

Although the cross was reportedly destroyed by the impact, the collision is believed to have prevented a direct strike on the monastery itself, potentially sparing the historic site from far more extensive destruction.

During his visit to the area yesterday, Archimandrite Bartholomew and the accompanying fathers from Esphigmenou Monastery observed the visible traces of the attack and the damage left behind by the Russian strike.