"500 million and 2 years": The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra has estimated the cost and timeline for the restoration of the Cathedral of the Dormition

The restoration of the Assumption Cathedral at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra may take about two years, and the preliminary estimate of the damage already exceeds 500 million UAH. The administration of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve announced the completion of major work to address the aftermath of the fire and prepare the building for further conservation.

According to Ukrinform, citing a statement by the reserve’s director general, Maksym Ostapenko, experts are continuing to assess the extent of the damage. He said the amount exceeds 500 million hryvnias, but this is still only a preliminary estimate, as additional data is still coming in.

Ostapenko noted that the main measures to extinguish the fire, which was caused by the attack, have already been completed. Currently, State Emergency Service personnel are dismantling hazardous structures and preparing the cathedral’s roof for preservation.

One of the top priorities remains assessing the condition of the cathedral’s vaults, which were exposed to extremely high temperatures. According to the head of the reserve, there was a risk that the vault could collapse inward, which could have led to the iconostasis catching fire and the loss of significant artistic treasures housed within the sanctuary.

The reserve’s general director emphasized that large-scale destruction of the cathedral was averted thanks to the deployment of more than 20 pieces of equipment. However, he noted that the fire had already begun to spread inside the building in two places, posing a serious threat to the cathedral’s interiors.

Speaking about the prospects for restoration, Ostapenko expressed cautious optimism. He stated that under normal conditions, the Assumption Cathedral could be restored in about two years, so that it could continue to be used as one of the Lavra’s main shrines.