Up to 7 people were killed and up to 13 injured in a large-scale Russian drone attack on Kyiv and Odesa, which also damaged the historic Holy Wisdom Cathedral.
Newsroom, June 11, 2025, Gaudium Press – A massive Russian drone attack on Kyiv and Odesa has left up to seven people dead and 13 injured, while causing significant damage to the historic Holy Wisdom Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The assault, which involved over 315 drones and lasted five hours, was described by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as “one of the biggest” strikes on the capital in the three-year war.
The attack damaged the cornice on the main apse of the Holy Wisdom Cathedral, also known as St. Sophia, a sacred site that has served as the Mother Church for Christians tracing their roots to ancient Rus, including both Catholics and Orthodox. Construction of the cathedral began in the 11th century, following Grand Prince Volodymyr of Kyivan Rus’ adoption of Byzantine Christianity in the 10th century.
Ukrainian Culture Minister Mykola Tochytskyi confirmed the damage, and Vadym Kyrylenko, first deputy director general of the site, noted it was the first instance of damage to the cathedral since Russia’s invasion began in 2022. UNESCO had listed the cathedral as an endangered World Heritage site in 2023 due to the ongoing threat of Russian attacks.
Metropolitan Borys Gudziak, archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, condemned the attack, stating, “Last night’s massive drone attack — the largest of the war — struck at the heart of Ukraine: the Cathedral of the Holy Wisdom.” He compared St. Sophia’s cultural and spiritual significance to landmarks like Notre Dame in Paris and St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, emphasizing its resilience through centuries of invasions and communist persecution. “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and relentless daily bombings spare nothing and no one,” Gudziak said, citing the destruction of over 4,000 schools, 1,600 medical facilities, and 236,000 residential buildings.
The Ukrainian Council of Churches also denounced the attack, noting that 670 churches and houses of worship have been damaged or destroyed since Russia’s invasion began in February 2022. They reported that 60 clergy members have been killed, and many others have been illegally arrested or held in Russian captivity. In occupied territories, religious persecution persists, with unlawful arrests, seizure of religious buildings, and attempts to control religious life to support the occupation.
Social media posts on X highlighted additional damage in Odesa, including to a maternity hospital and residential buildings. The attack followed a Russian barrage of nearly 500 drones and 20 missiles targeting central and western Ukraine, which Russia claimed was retaliation for Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian air bases on June 1.
Since the war’s onset, organizations like the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA) have provided over $3.5 million in aid, partnering with the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Caritas Ukraine, and others to deliver food, medical care, shelter, and psychological support. Archbishop Gudziak called for prayers for a “just, lasting peace” to protect Ukraine’s people, churches, and cultural identity, and for the return of tens of thousands of abducted children.
In 2022, Catholic News Service reported warnings from the Ukrainian Catholic Archdiocese of Kyiv-Halych and the Ukrainian Embassy to the Holy See about potential Russian air strikes on the cathedral. Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk had urged Christians to pray for the site’s protection, invoking “the wisdom of God” to deter such an act of vandalism. The cathedral, renowned for its well-preserved 11th-century mosaics and frescoes, remains a symbol of Ukraine’s enduring spiritual and cultural heritage.
Kyrylenko stated that the cathedral would undergo inspection and repairs to address the damage. The international community, including UNESCO, continues to monitor the site’s safety amid the ongoing conflict.
Raju Hasmukh with sources from:
– Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, statement on drone attack, June 2025.
– Ukrainian Culture Minister Mykola Tochytskyi, statement on cathedral damage, June 2025.
– Metropolitan Borys Gudziak, Ukrainian Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, statement, June 2025.
– Ukrainian Council of Churches, statement on religious persecution, June 2025.
– Vadym Kyrylenko, first deputy director general of St. Sophia Cathedral, June 2025.
– UNESCO World Heritage Centre, statement on St. Sophia Cathedral, 2023.
– Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA), aid report, 2022–2025.
– Catholic News Service, report on potential Russian air strikes, 2022.
– Social media posts on X, Odesa damage reports, June 2025.
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