Security Service of Ukraine: Russia attacked Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra with Heran-2 drone
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has established that Russian forces attacked the Assumption Cathedral of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra with a Heran-2 drone, said the SBU in a statement.
Ukrainian law enforcement officers came to this conclusion based on the analysis of the drone debris found at the site. SBU officers found fragments of the hull and engine of the Russian kamikaze drone.
“During the examination of the enemy drone debris, it was established that some of its components were manufactured on the territory of the Russian Federation in the Alabuga special economic zone. This is evidenced by the corresponding markings found on the fragments of the Russian drone,” the SBU said.
Investigators are classifying this strike as a war crime and have already initiated criminal proceedings under Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
The Russian Ministry of Defence is blaming Ukraine for the damage to the Lavra. They claim that the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra was hit by a missile of the Patriot air defence system.
“One of the reasons for the incorrect operation of this system could be that Western countries transferred missiles with expired expiration dates,” Russia claims.
Yurii Ihnat, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force Command, explained that photos of fragments of air defence missiles that intercepted 15 Russian ballistic missiles and 5 Zircon missiles this night were posted online. The Russians used one of the photos posted online to claim that “Ukraine is attacking itself.”