Director of Kyiv–Pechersk Lavra: The cathedral strike was no accident | Maksym Ostapenko

975 years of history and a strike that had one goal: an attack on Ukrainian history and heritage. The attack was particularly significant because of the historical and religious importance of the site. “Russia controlled the Kyiv–Pechersk Lavra for more than 300 years,” says the site's director, Maksym Ostapenko, in a conversation with Klaudia Czerwińska. Now, it can no longer use it to promote narratives serving the interests of the Russian Empire.
“In my view, Russia is sliding into a state of psychological hysteria. It cannot control the battlefield situation and is destroying everything that can be destroyed,” Ostapenko adds.

The TVP World guest adds that the Kyiv–Pechersk Lavra is a symbol of Ukraine's rebirth, a symbol that Russia would like to erase. Shortly after the attack, expressions of sympathy and support poured in from all over the world, along with assistance from numerous international organizations. This shows that there is no acceptance for the destruction of Ukraine's cultural heritage and national identity.

00:00 - What is the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra?
01:12 - Why was it targeted by a Russian strike?
02:37 - How was the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra founded?
04:38 - The Kyiv Pechersk Lavra as a symbol of Ukraine’s rebirth
05:47 - The declining influence of the Moscow Patriarchate
06:55 - The world reacts to the attack
08:51 - The scale of the damage and the site's safety
09:43 - What does the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra mean to Ukrainians today?

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