The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized a press tour of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra

The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized a visit for media representatives to the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve. The event was timed to coincide with the 975th anniversary of the shrine, which is currently beginning preparations to celebrate its millennium. Journalists were able to explore the monastery’s historical heritage, assess the condition of damaged structures, and learn about the restoration process for architectural monuments. This was reported by the reserve’s press service at .

During the tour, media representatives visited the Trinity Gate Church—the only early 12th-century church in Ukraine that has survived virtually unchanged. Experts noted that the church’s interior is adorned with paintings from the Ukrainian Baroque era; however, restoration work has not yet been completed and requires financial support from international foundations and patrons.

Ivan Yagovenko, the reserve’s deputy director general for legal affairs, spoke about the condition of the Assumption Cathedral, which was damaged on June 15 as a result of a rocket and drone attack by Russian forces: the church lost more than 80% of its roof. A total of 19 different sites within the reserve were damaged.

At the conclusion of the visit, journalists toured the exhibition “The Revived Universe,” where experts in the restoration of paintings and decorative and applied arts presented the restored works. Media representatives also visited the caves where the monastery’s history began. Reserve staff accompanying the delegation emphasized the importance of viewing the history of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra through the lens of Ukrainian identity, free from imperial myths and imposed interpretations.

As a reminder, earlier, Maksym Ostapenko, director of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve, presented the concept for the shrine’s development to the diplomatic corps, stating that in the future it should become the “Ukrainian Vatican.”