logo
Ukraine restoring medieval Kyiv cathedral damaged by Russian blast

Ukraine restoring medieval Kyiv cathedral damaged by Russian blast

Globe and Mail16-07-2025
Restoration is under way on the medieval St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv after missiles damaged the iconic symbol of Ukrainian identity and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The blast wave from the missile and drone strike on the night of June 10, which came as part of Russia's continuing and intense summer offensive, damaged the cornice on the 11th century cathedral's main apse.
Museum experts are using chemical and technical analysis, and 3-D scanning data of the cathedral, to assess the damage and expect to restore the cornice by the end of the summer, said Nelia Kukovalska, the general director of the Saint Sophia of Kyiv National Preserve, a historical and cultural state institution.
Built shortly after the Christianization of Kyivan Rus in 988 A.D. by Prince Volodymyr the Great, St. Sophia is considered a symbol of Ukraine's historical and cultural heritage and houses important secular and religious mosaics and frescoes.
Odesa cathedral repairs bring hope as Ukrainians enter third year of Russia's war on their culture
'UNESCO commissioned chemical and technological analyses of the cornice plaster, which enabled it to determine the precise composition of the necessary solution. Now, we can restore the damaged section and reinforce the entire cornice,' said Ms. Kukovalska.
She said she had been concerned about the 1,000-year-old Oranta mosaic of the Virgin Mary with her arms raised in prayer. Standing six metres tall, the mosaic is considered a protective symbol of Kyiv and often referred to as the Indestructible Wall. But an inspection of the mosaic has not revealed any visible cracks.
As Russia's war on Ukraine continues, its cultural heritage remains under threat. UNESCO has stated 501 cultural sites across the country have been damaged since the war began in 2022, including religious buildings, museums and historical buildings. The full extent of damage is not known because nearly all of Crimea and the entire Luhansk region are occupied, as are parts of the Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Kherson regions.
Ukraine's Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications, Mykola Tochytskyi, announced on the ministry's website that damage to cultural heritage sites would be documented and submitted to international bodies. The Ukrainian government considers the attack on St. Sophia Cathedral a violation of the 1972 Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage and the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.
The summer has been especially difficult as Russia's offensive continues in multiple regions across the country. St. Sophia Cathedral has been on the UNESCO list of World Heritage in Danger due to the risks posed by the war.
Ms. Kukovalska said that as early as 2022 Ukrainian intelligence warned of a possible strike on the cathedral and she credited Ukraine's air defence forces with preventing further destruction.
The cathedral is renowned for housing the world's largest collection of 11th-century secular frescoes, offering a glimpse into daily life of Kyivan Rus. The dynastic portrait of Volodymyr the Great and his family includes his son Yaroslav the Wise and daughters who were princesses connected to various medieval European royal families. They include Agatha of Kyiv, who married Edward the Exile of England and became mother to Edgar Atheling and Saint Margaret of Scotland. Maria Dobroniega, also in the portrait, married Polish King Casimir I.
'Our bloodlines have spread throughout European families, says Ms. Kukovalska. 'Across every European country, there are echoes of our shared history.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Zelenskyy announces new anti-graft bill in Ukraine after public outcry and EU criticism
Zelenskyy announces new anti-graft bill in Ukraine after public outcry and EU criticism

Globe and Mail

time2 hours ago

  • Globe and Mail

Zelenskyy announces new anti-graft bill in Ukraine after public outcry and EU criticism

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that he's sending a new anti-corruption bill to Ukraine's Parliament on Thursday, in a further attempt to defuse tensions after he approved changes to graft laws that brought a public outcry and sharp criticism from the European Union. Opponents of the contentious law passed by lawmakers and approved by Zelenskyy earlier this week said that it stripped Ukraine's anti-corruption watchdogs of their independence by granting the government more oversight of their work. Zelenskyy said that it was needed to speed up investigations, ensure more convictions and remove 'Russian influence' from the fight against corruption, though he didn't provide examples of Russian meddling. In an abrupt change of course on Thursday, Zelenskyy unexpectedly said that he had drawn up a new draft bill on corruption that 'guarantees the real strengthening of the law and order system in Ukraine.' 'The most important thing is real tools, no Russian connections, and the independence of the (watchdogs),' he said in a Telegram post. The declaration appeared to bow to recent pressure that threatened to undermine public trust in Ukraine's leaders after more than three years of fighting Russia's full-scale invasion. The protests haven't called for Zelenskyy's ouster, but they are the first major anti-government demonstrations since the war began. 'It is important that we maintain unity,' Zelenskyy said in his post. The announcement also left some questions unanswered. Zelenskyy had said Wednesday that he met with the heads of Ukraine's key anti-corruption and security agencies and gave them two weeks to make recommendations on how the graft law could be improved before he presented another bill to Parliament. Despite that assurance, further street protests were scheduled for Thursday evening. The new pronouncement also left unclear whether Zelenskyy intended to revoke the law that he approved earlier in the week after Parliament had passed it. He didn't publicize details about the proposed new law. The unrest has come at a difficult time in the all-out war, which began on Feb. 24, 2022. Russia's bigger army is accelerating its efforts to pierce Ukraine's front-line defenses and is escalating its bombardment of Ukrainian cities. Ukraine is also facing a question mark over whether the United States will provide more military aid and whether European commitments can take up the slack, with no end in sight to the war. Delegations from Russia and Ukraine met in Istanbul for a third round of talks in as many months Wednesday. But once again, the talks were brief and delivered no major breakthrough. Fighting entrenched corruption is crucial for Ukraine's aspirations to join the EU and maintain access to billions of dollars in Western aid in the war. It's also an effort that enjoys broad public support. EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos expressed concern Wednesday over the new law, calling it 'a serious step back.' The Ukrainian branch of Transparency International criticized parliament's decision, saying it undermines one of the most significant reforms since what Ukraine calls its Revolution of Dignity in 2014 and damages trust with international partners. Meanwhile, Russian planes dropped two powerful glide bombs on the center of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, on Thursday morning, regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said. At least 37 people were wounded, including a 28-day-old baby, a 10-year-old girl and two 17 year olds, authorities said. The southern city of Odesa, and Cherkasy in central Ukraine, were also hit overnight, authorities said. The drone and missile strikes on the cities wounded 11 people, including a 9-year-old, and damaged historic landmarks and residential buildings, officials said. Ukraine has sought to step up its own long-range drone attacks on Russia, using domestic technology and manufacturing. An overnight Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi killed two women and wounded 11 other people, local authorities said Thursday. An oil depot was hit, officials said, without offering details. ___

Hungary bans Irish rap group Kneecap from entering ahead of festival performance
Hungary bans Irish rap group Kneecap from entering ahead of festival performance

CTV News

time4 hours ago

  • CTV News

Hungary bans Irish rap group Kneecap from entering ahead of festival performance

Naoise O Caireallain, left, and Liam Og of the hip hop trio Kneecap perform during the Glastonbury Festival in Worthy Farm, Somerset, England, Saturday, June 28, 2025. (Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP) BUDAPEST, Hungary — Members of the Irish-language rap group Kneecap were banned from entering Hungary ahead of their scheduled performance at the popular Sziget Festival as authorities argued the musicians' presence in the country would constitute a risk to national security. The Belfast trio, scheduled to play on Sziget's closing day on Aug. 11, is known for anarchic energy, satirical lyrics and use of symbolism associated with the Irish republican movement, which seeks to unite Northern Ireland, currently part of the U.K., with the Republic of Ireland. The group has faced criticism for lyrics laden with expletives and drug references and for political statements seeming to glorify militant groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. Kneecap has accused critics of trying to silence the band because of its support for the Palestinian cause throughout Israel's war in Gaza and say they don't support Hezbollah and Hamas nor condone violence. Hungary's immigration authority, the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing, published decrees on Thursday declaring Kneecap members Naoise Ó Cairealláin, J.J. Ó Dochartaigh and Liam Óg ÓhAnnaidh would be banned from Hungary's territory for three years since their 'entry and stay constitute a serious threat to national security.' Government spokesman Zoltán Kovács wrote on social platform X that the decision to ban Kneecap was due to 'antisemitic hate speech and open praise for Hamas and Hezbollah.' Hungarian authorities and other groups had earlier pushed Sziget Festival to cancel the band's performance. Hungary's minister for European affairs, János Bóka, noted the government's 'zero-tolerance' policy toward antisemitism in a July 11 letter to the festival's organizers. Hundreds of figures from Hungary's music and cultural community also have signed a petition calling for Kneecap's performance to be cancelled. The group performed in April at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in California, where they accused Israel of committing genocide against the Palestinians enabled by the U.S. government. That sparked calls for the rappers' U.S. visas to be revoked and several Kneecap gigs have since been canceled as a result. Justin Spike, The Associated Press

Ukraine's Zelenskyy promises safeguards after street protests over a new anti-corruption law
Ukraine's Zelenskyy promises safeguards after street protests over a new anti-corruption law

CTV News

time6 hours ago

  • CTV News

Ukraine's Zelenskyy promises safeguards after street protests over a new anti-corruption law

Thousands of people protest against a law targeting anti-corruption institutions near the President's Office in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, July 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Dan Bashakov) KYIV, Ukraine — Opponents of a new law they say strips Ukraine's anti-corruption watchdogs of their independence called for a third straight day of street protests across the country Thursday, despite President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's attempts to defuse the tension with promises of legislative safeguards. After meeting with the heads of Ukraine's key anti-corruption and security agencies, Zelenskyy promised to act on their recommendations by presenting a bill to Parliament that strengthens the rule of law. 'And very importantly: all the norms for the independence of anti-corruption institutions will be in place,' Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address late Wednesday. Zelenskyy acknowledged the controversy triggered by the new corruption law, which also drew rebukes from European Union officials and international rights groups. 'It's not falling on deaf ears,' Zelenskyy said of the complaints. 'We've analyzed all the concerns, all the aspects of what needs to be changed and what needs to be stepped up.' However, he didn't promise to revoke the law that he approved. The legislation that was adopted this week, despite pleas for Zelenskyy to veto it, tightened government oversight of two key anti-corruption agencies. Critics said the step could significantly weaken the independence of those agencies and give Zelenskyy's circle greater influence over investigations. The protests haven't called for Zelenskyy's ouster. But the first major anti-government demonstrations since the war began come at a tough time for Ukraine in its three-year battle to thwart Russia's invasion. Russia's bigger army is accelerating its efforts to pierce Ukraine's front-line defenses and is escalating its bombardment of Ukrainian cities. Ukraine is also facing a question mark over whether the United States will provide more military aid and whether European commitments can take up the slack, with no end to the war in sight. Delegations from Russia and Ukraine met in Istanbul for a third round of talks in as many months Wednesday. But once again the talks were brief and delivered no major breakthrough. Zelenskyy had insisted earlier Wednesday that the new legal framework was needed to crack down harder on corruption. Fighting entrenched corruption is crucial for Ukraine's aspirations to join the EU and maintain access to billions of dollars in Western aid in the war. 'Criminal cases should not drag on for years without verdicts, and those working against Ukraine must not feel comfortable or immune from punishment,' he said. Meanwhile, Russian planes dropped two powerful glide bombs on the center of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, on Thursday morning, regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said. At least 16 people were injured, including a 10-year-old girl who suffered an acute stress reaction, he said. The southern Ukrainian city of Odesa and Cherkasy in central Ukraine were also hit overnight, authorities said. The drone and missile strikes on the cities injured 11 people, including a 9-year-old, and damaged historic landmarks and residential buildings, officials said. Ukraine has sought to step up its own long-range drone attacks on Russia, using domestic technology and manufacturing. An overnight Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi killed two women and injured 11 other people, local authorities said Thursday. An oil depot was hit, officials said, without offering details. ___ Illia Novikov, The Associated Press

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store