In recent days, Russia carried out threats and escalated attacks in a nationwide combined strike against Ukraine. Again.
However, this time it was a wave of attacks with a dual target: civilians and cultural landmarks.
As of now, there are 35 injured and 5 dead in Kyiv. Overall, 53 people have been injured across the country and 11 have been killed by a massive Russian strike overnight on June 15. In Kharkiv, at least 5 people were killed, including rescuers who died under repeated strikes.
However, these days also reveal a different, less visible but systematic and hard-to-ignore pattern - targeted strikes against UNESCO World Heritage sites, nationally significant landmarks, museums and cultural institutions:
The Kyiv Pechersk Lavra is one of the oldest monastic complexes and a symbol of spiritual continuity that has survived centuries of wars, empires and political shifts. It is both a religious center and a UNESCO-recognised heritage site.
A Russian drone struck the Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, sparking a massive fire on the cathedral's roof. The Security Service of Ukraine reports finding fragments of a "Geran-2" drone at the site of the strike.
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Religious relics and museum exhibits were immediately evacuated from the cathedral. Also, several buildings on the territory of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra have been damaged, with less severe damage recorded. This is the second time Russian strikes have damaged the Lavra since the start of the full-scale invasion.
The Mystetskyi Arsenal is a major cultural institution in Kyiv, built on the foundations of a historic military complex. Today, it serves as one of the country's key contemporary art and cultural hubs, hosting exhibitions that shape Ukraine's modern cultural dialogue with the world.
The strike occurred after the attack on the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, while emergency services were still carrying out rescue operations at the Assumption Cathedral and caused a fire. The left wing of the Old Arsenal sustained significant damage, mostly to the roof structure.
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Emergency services confirmed serious damage to parts of the building, with restoration costs requiring further calculation, but expected to be substantial.
According to the leadership of the Mystetskyi Arsenal,the Russian drone hit the same place where Soviet explosives had been planted during their retreat in 1941.
The Olexandr Dovzhenko National Film Studio is one of the oldest and most important film production centers in Ukraine. It holds a vast archival collection of Ukrainian cinema history, including costumes, sets and production assets associated with landmark films that shaped national and global cinematic heritage.
The strike destroyed 100,000 costumes, approximately 3 million items of clothing, and the studio's costume production facility.
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Several other studio buildings and cars on the premises were damaged. This is the second attack on the film studio this month.
The building, a landmark of early 20th-century architecture, belongs to the St. Nicholas Church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and is listed as a site of national architectural significance.
The structure has sustained serious damage, including the dome, gold-leafed sheets and historic stained-glass windows, and now faces a significant restoration burden. The scale of the destruction has silenced the historic venue, making future concerts impossible until extensive restoration is funded. Additionally, damage has been recorded to the domes' roofing: in certain areas, the metal covering was partially torn off by the shock wave. The main musical instrument, the organ located in the historic building, was also damaged.
The Kharkiv Art Museum is one of the oldest art museums in Ukraine, with a collection that reflects centuries of Ukrainian and European artistic heritage.
The building was hit in a Russian strike on June 14, triggering a fire inside the building. The strike was reportedly carried out with a "Shahed" drone.
Museum staff and emergency services worked to evacuate and rescue artworks during the attack, but they were forced to pause operations due to the risk of further strikes.
The fire damaged the building, causing significant damage to the roof and upper structures.
The museum was damaged by Russian strikes not for the first time, with the building hit at least twice in 2022. Most valuable collections had been evacuated earlier, but some of the 26,000 items remained inside.
In Kyiv, "Ukrkinochronika", one of Ukraine's oldest documentary studios, recording key events for 95 years, was impacted. The National Palace of Arts "Ukraine" was damaged with shattered windows and a damaged facade. Ivan Karpenko-Karyi Kyiv National University of Theatre, Film, and Television was also damaged.
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According to the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, as of the end of May 2026, 1,913 cultural heritage sites and 2,573 cultural infrastructure objects have been destroyed or damaged due to Russia's war against Ukraine.
The most significant destruction has occurred in Kharkiv Oblast - 355 sites, Kherson - 305, Odesa - 203, Donetsk - 225, Kyiv Oblast and the city of Kyiv - 270.
It is not the first time Russia has damaged Ukraine's cultural heritage, but what makes these days different is the concentration and repetition: several cultural sites have been hit within a matter of days, often with double strikes, to cause more damage and casualties.
These sites are more than buildings - together, they form part of the symbolic framework that helps a nation understand who it is and where it comes from.
Failing to win the war on the battlefield, Russia is shifting its focus toward Ukraine's culture, memory and identity.
UkraineWorld records Russia's destruction and damage of cultural and historical heritage and tells about unique monuments that have survived centuries, but now are under constant threat.We encourage you to learn more:
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This publication was compiled with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation. It's content is the exclusive responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the views of the International Renaissance Foundation.
