Russia has destroyed more than 600 Ukrainian churches and killed 67 priests during the full-scale war
- News of Ukraine
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- Darina Melnychuk
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15:45, 20 April, 2025
A damaged church in Lisne near Kharkiv. Illustrative photo: Alex Chan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesOver the three years of full-scale war, Russian troops have damaged or destroyed more than 600 churches in Ukraine, and killed or tortured 67 priests.
This was announced by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
«And this is not just collateral damage». A rocket hit the altar of an Orthodox cathedral in Odesa. Artillery is leaving churches in ruins. Houses of worship are burning from Russian bombs. 640 religious sites have been destroyed, most of them Christian», Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
He called the Russian army «one of the biggest threats to Christian churches and believers», and assured that Ukraine would rebuild all damaged religious sites. According to him, dozens of such buildings have already been restored in the de-occupied territories.
«We are also releasing priests and pastors from Russian captivity, doing everything to protect Ukrainian cities and villages and the lives of people in them, we are returning the opportunity to believe — to believe that evil and ruins will not win», Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
As a reminder, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the so-called «Easter truce». The Russians declared their readiness to cease fire from the evening of 19 April to midnight on 21 April, but only if Ukraine complies with the ceasefire.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented on another Russian attack with attack drones that took place after 17:00 on Saturday, 19 April. According to him, this demonstrates the true attitude of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Easter and human life.
Subsequently, the head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, Oleksandr Prokudin, noted that Russian drone attacks continued in the region after 18:00, when the Russians allegedly announced an «Easter truce». He noted that there is currently no «lull».
Later, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the Ukrainian side was ready for a full and unconditional ceasefire, but would act in a mirror image if Russia continued to shell. The President outlined this position in his address on 19 April.