On the night from Monday to Tuesday, Russian military forces targeted Kyiv and Odesa, resulting in substantial destruction, particularly at St. Sophia Cathedral and the Odesa Film Studio.

This was reported by Ukraine's Minister of Culture, Mykola Tochitsky.

Strike at the Heart of Cultural Heritage: Damage to St. Sophia and Film Sets

Tochitsky emphasized that the nighttime assault struck at the very essence of our identity.

He noted that St. Sophia Cathedral is not only an architectural wonder but also a symbol of Ukraine's statehood.

The minister specified that the shockwave from the blasts damaged the cornice of the main apse of this 11th-century structure, which he referred to as the “soul of Ukraine”.

Additionally, according to the minister, the Odesa Film Studio sustained damages due to the shelling on the same day.

“Pavilions, storage facilities, sets, and vehicles were damaged. The film sets for «Dovzhenko» were completely destroyed—a significant national project about the famous Ukrainian director”, Tochitsky reported.