Ukraine's Ministry of Culture has brought a unique 14th–15th-century church in the Ivano-Frankivsk region to the brink of ruin

In the village of Chesniki in the Ivano-Frankivsk region, the 14th–15th-century St. Nicholas Church—an architectural monument of national significance—is at risk of collapse. The main reason for the historic site’s deplorable condition is the lack of a formally executed preservation agreement.

Although the church was included in the State Register of Immovable Monuments of Ukraine by a resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers dated January 3, 2024, the necessary agreement on its protection has not yet been concluded. Deputy Minister of Culture Yevhen Lavro noted that the ministry had not received any requests to transfer the building for use or management. At the same time, the question of ownership—whether state, municipal, or private—remains unresolved, although according to the Law “On the Protection of Cultural Heritage,” it is the owner who is obligated to ensure the proper maintenance of the monument.

The situation became critical after one of the buttresses—massive supporting structures characteristic of defensive architecture—collapsed on September 26. Roksolana Rosolovska, a local resident who discovered the damage, contacted the city council, after which the collapsed section was temporarily covered with a tarp. During a meeting attended by representatives of the regional administration and the Rohatyn community, issues regarding the preservation of the monument were discussed; however, no specific timeline for the start of work was announced.

Ministry representatives emphasized that, due to state budget constraints amid the war, full funding for all monuments is impossible. Local budgets, donations from philanthropists, and international grant programs are being considered as alternative sources of funding. The St. Nicholas Church in Chesniki, where regular services were held until 1911, remains a unique historical site in need of urgent conservation.

As a reminder, we previously reported that Ukraine is facing a paradoxical situation: while hundreds of historic churches and monasteries across the country are in critical condition and falling into ruin due to a lack of government attention, the authorities are actively seizing functioning religious sites from the Church.