An airstrike destroyed Ukraine's historic Holy Dormition Sviatogirsk Lavra, an Orthodox monastery in the Donetsk Oblast region of eastern Ukraine, CNN reported
Several persons were injured and taken to a hospital in Sviatogirsk, in the east, while others were treated on the spot. According to the parliament statement, no one was killed. The explosion occurred around 10 p.m. local time Saturday, 50 metres from a bridge that connects the right and left banks of the Siverskyi Donets River, near the monastery's entrance.
The explosion damaged the temple windows of the monastery and the windows and doors of a nearby hotel. A total of 520 refugees, including 200 children, were seeking asylum in the monastery. As per reports, there are approximately 10,000 refugees and locals in Sviatogirsk town.
Metropolitan Arseny, the bishop of the monastery, stated there are no military units in Sviatogirsk and that the attack was carried out against a "peaceful city" and one of Ukraine's holiest places. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church is represented by the Holy Dormition Sviatogirsk Lavra. It was built in 1526 and now contains the relics of St. John the Hermit of Sviatohirsk.
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