Monk Killed, Four Injured in Drone Strikes on Kherson Monastery

CHERVONYI MAYAK, UKRAINE — According to the Kherson Eparchy Telegram channel, Monk Moses, the oldest resident of the Grigorivsky Bizukov Monastery in the Kherson Eparchy, was killed following a series of drone strikes on the monastery, while four other members of the monastic community were injured during their evacuation.

The monastery, located in the village of Chervonyi Mayak in the Novovorontsovsk Vicariate, came under drone attack while the monks were still inside. Monk Moses suffered severe injuries in the strikes and later died. After a period of calm, the monks decided that continued attacks made it impossible to remain at the monastery and began walking toward a neighboring village.

During the evacuation, another drone strike occurred, injuring four members of the monastery community. The wounded brothers were identified as Archimandrite Kuksha and novices Oleksandr, Oleh, and Oleksandr. Metr. Ioann of Kherson and Tavria expressed condolences over Monk Moses’ death and asked the faithful to pray for the recovery of the injured.

On September 21, the wounded monks received pastoral care while undergoing treatment at a medical facility in the Kherson region. With the blessing of Metr. Ioann, Archimandrite Ambrose (Pridko), secretary of the Novovorontsov Vicariate, visited them on the feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos.

The four wounded brothers participated in the Sacrament of Holy Communion during the visit. According to the Kherson Eparchy, their condition is currently satisfactory. Metr. Ioann expressed gratitude to all those offering prayers for the recovery of the injured monks.

Previously, the UOJ reported that a Russian drone strike killed Archpriest Heorhiy Horbenko.