Ukraine: Direct hit on Orthodox cathedral

As reported by UCA News on 26 July 2023, as part of a nighttime barrage, a Russian missile directly hit the central altar of the Ukrainian Orthodox Holy Transfiguration Cathedral in Odesa causing extensive damage.

World Watch Research analyst Rolf Zeegers comments: “This is not the first church building to be damaged or destroyed since Russia launched its invasion on 24 February 2022. As of 20 July 2023, UNESCO has verified damage to 270 cultural sites in Ukraine since February 2022 - 116 religious sites, 27 museums, 95 buildings of historical and/or artistic interest, 19 monuments, 12 libraries and 1 archive (UNESCO, 21 July 2023). And then there are also human victims – many injured and killed. The fact that Russia was not prepared to avoid a missile hit on the Ukranian Orthodox cathedral (which Russia has, of course, denied) shows how callous and destructive the war in Ukraine has become. As neither side is currently showing willingness to come to any form of peace-agreement through compromise, it would seem that the death and destruction will continue for a long time. Christians in Ukraine will have to be prepared to accept more such church destruction in the future.”