Another attack has been carried out on a medieval Orthodox church in Kosovo

In the city of Prizren, Kosovo, another act of vandalism has been reported against a cultural heritage site—the Serbian Orthodox Church of St. Spas. On August 23, 2026, a perpetrator damaged the entrance doors and lighting system of the 14th-century architectural monument. According to Politika Online, the perpetrator was detained by local police but was released pending trial after an initial interrogation.

The Church of St. Spas, which is of great historical significance to Serbian culture, has been regularly targeted for decades. In particular, the building sustained serious damage during the pogroms of 2004, when unique ancient frescoes were destroyed by fire. Since then, the shrine has repeatedly been targeted by vandals, including thefts of structural elements and break-ins through the gates.

This incident underscores a general trend toward rising tensions in the region. Previously, the Serbian Orthodox Church has repeatedly spoken out about the deteriorating situation of the Serbian population and religious communities in Kosovo, calling for stronger protection of historical and religious monuments.

As a reminder, the Raška-Prizren Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church previously issued an official demand for an independent and thorough investigation into the incident involving the brutal mistreatment of Nenad Rašković, a resident of the village of Dren. The victim is in intensive care with severe injuries which, according to him, were sustained as a result of torture by Kosovo police officers.