MOSCOW, June 15 - The Russian Foreign Ministry on Monday rejected as a "crude fake" claims by Ukraine and Western governments that Russian forces were responsible for damage to a historic monastery in Kyiv during a large-scale overnight attack.
Russian officials said the Pechersk Lavra monastery, which the Russian statement described as more than a thousand years old, suffered significant damage. The incident occurred shortly before a Group of Seven meeting scheduled in France this week, officials noted.
Earlier on Monday, the Russian Defence Ministry issued its own denial, stating that Russian forces had not struck the Pechersk Lavra monastery in Kyiv during what it called an attack on military factories. The Defence Ministry attributed damage to the religious site to a U.S.-made Patriot air defence missile.
Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, accused Ukraine and Western countries of manufacturing "another falsification" and of advancing "a crude fake." Zakharova said the Russian Defence Ministry had provided an account of "what really happened."
In a public statement, Zakharova also singled out French President Emmanuel Macron and other European politicians, accusing them of hastily condemning Moscow over damage to the monastery. She said those leaders had remained silent about what she described as deadly Ukrainian strikes on a student dormitory and on a museum in Crimea that destroyed an iconic work of art.
Summary
- Russia's Foreign Ministry dismissed accusations that its forces struck Kyiv's Pechersk Lavra monastery as a "crude fake."
- The Russian Defence Ministry denied responsibility for the monastery damage and blamed a U.S.-made Patriot air defence missile.
- Maria Zakharova accused European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, of rushing to condemn Moscow while ignoring other strikes cited by Russia.
Key points
- Official Russian statements categorically deny that Russian forces targeted the Pechersk Lavra monastery and offer an alternate explanation for the damage.
- The timing of the damage was noted ahead of an upcoming G7 meeting in France, a point highlighted by Russian officials.
- Russian authorities accused Western politicians of bias and countered with references to separate strikes they said affected civilians and cultural property.
Risks and uncertainties
- Conflicting official accounts create uncertainty about the origin and cause of the damage to the monastery, complicating verification efforts.
- Accusations traded between Moscow and Western officials risk further diplomatic tension, particularly with the G7 meeting occurring this week.
- Damage to a historic religious and cultural site raises concerns about the protection of cultural heritage amid hostilities.