Ballistic Missile Strikes St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Zaporizhia

On the morning of January 18, two Russian ballistic missiles struck St. Andrew the First-Called Cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) in Zaporizhia, Ukraine. The attack caused the church’s iconic dome to collapse.

Father Konstantin Kostyukovich reported that at the time of the missile strike, only a duty officer, who is present in the church 24/7, and a devout parishioner were inside. Thankfully, neither was harmed, though the devastation caused by the explosion was readily apparent.

St. Andrew’s cathedral has a unique history; during the Soviet era, the building functioned as a cinema. In 1995, it was repurposed and transformed into an Orthodox church. Metropolitan Luka (Kovalenko) of Zaporizhia, known for his strong allegiance to Moscow Patriarch Kirill, serves as the diocesan bishop of the cathedral.

Following the attack, the Zaporizhia Diocese issued an appeal for support, asking citizens to donate funds to assist in rebuilding and clearing the damage. “We ask everyone who can to provide assistance and transfer funds to the cathedral’s account. Those who are able are encouraged to help on-site with the recovery efforts.” Metropolitan Luka commented on the tragedy, framing it as a “test of faith” but refrained from mentioning Russia or identifying it as the perpetrator behind the attack. Historian and theologian Sergiy Shumylo pointedly remarked on the irony of the situation, noting that this cathedral is among the few in Ukraine where Metropolitan Luka continues to refer to Moscow Patriarch Kirill as “our lord and father” during services—an acknowledgment of their jurisdictional ties to Moscow. Shumylo commented, “The missiles do not discriminate between supporters of Russkiy Mir (the Russian World) and ordinary Ukrainians. This is the cost of loyalty to Moscow, though I doubt even this tragedy will alter his stance.”

The attack highlights a grim pattern of destruction targeting religious sites since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. By the beginning of 2024, approximately 530 religious buildings had been damaged, with 9% completely destroyed and 16% suffering irreversible damage. The Donetsk region alone accounts for 102 such incidents, while Kyiv (81), Luhansk (62), Kharkiv (61), Kherson (56), and Zaporizhia (32) have also experienced significant losses. Nearly half of the affected sites belong to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, while one-third are Protestant. Cases involving damage to Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu religious buildings have also been documented. Notably, on July 23, 2023, another missile strike from Russia nearly destroyed the Transfiguration Cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Odessa.

While much of this destruction stems from indiscriminate shelling, some incidents appear to be deliberate, raising questions about the targeting of religious and cultural landmarks amidst the ongoing war.

Photo Caption: The temple icon of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called and the heavily damaged Cathedral Church of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called in Zaporizhia.