‘Russian world’ causes damage to seven Orthodox churches and Islamic cultural center in Luhansk Region.

Russian troops have damaged at least seven Orthodox churches in Luhansk Region.

The relevant statement was made by Luhansk Regional Military Administration on Telegram, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“The ‘Russian world’ is destroying everything on its way. It does not need people, houses, enterprises, cultural monuments. Russians are wiping off everything they meet in Luhansk Region. Even something that is related to their own faith, Orthodox churches,” the report states.

Nativity of Christ Cathedral in Sievierodonetsk has already been hit with Russian shells four times. Nevertheless, Easter services were held in its basement premises on Sunday, April 24, 2022.

St. Catherine's Church in Shchastia, which is a cultural monument, was partially destroyed. Russia’s artillery strikes also hit St. Mitrophan's Church in Lysychansk and Matrona of Moscow Church in Rubizhne. St. Michael’s Parish Church in Rubizhne was damaged, same as the newly-built St. George’s Church in Rubizhne. Holy Trinity Church in Troitske was left with windows broken.

In addition, the Bismillah Islamic Cultural Center in Sievierodonetsk and the prayer premises of Evangelical Christians-Baptists in Metiolkine were damaged.

A reminder that, as of April 23, 2022, the Ukrainian Culture and Information Policy Ministry recorded 242 cases of war crimes committed by Russian invaders against Ukraine’s cultural heritage.

mk