Russian Shelling Severely Damages Holy Spirit Cathedral in Kherson
Photo: Ukrainian Orthodox Church/Facebook
KHERSON, UKRAINE — On the night of February 7, 2026, at approximately 11:00 p.m., Russian forces carried out a massive shelling of Kherson, causing serious damage to the Holy Spirit Cathedral, according to the press service of the Kherson Eparchy. The Information and Education Department of the UOC confirmed the incident.
One of the shells struck the roof of the cathedral, while another landed on the church grounds. The attack damaged the chapel dedicated to the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Life-Giving Spring,” the cathedral’s bell tower, and shattered windows in the Kherson Eparchial Administration and surrounding auxiliary buildings.
The cathedral, a central place of worship and diocesan administration, suffered significant structural harm, highlighting the ongoing threats to religious and cultural sites in the region amid continued hostilities. Local clergy and staff are assessing the full extent of the damage and planning emergency measures to stabilize the historic site.
Previously, the UOJ reported that overnight shelling damaged the Dormition Monastery in Odessa.
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