Inspection of damage to Lviv's Bernardine Monastery completed after Russian strike – photos
An inspection of the Bernardine Monastery has been completed in Lviv. Experts say the church sustained only minor damage, but a nearby residential building has been declared unsafe and unfit for habitation.
Source: Yevhen Boiko, chief of staff of the Executive Committee of the Lviv City Council
Details: Boiko said the residential building's roof and ceilings have been destroyed, structures have burned out and supporting walls have been damaged.
Quote: "Inside, sections of the building have collapsed, landings have been destroyed, and some historical features have been lost. Signs of an intense fire are also visible. The building is unsafe and unfit for habitation. Parts of the structure are at risk of collapsing later."
Details: According to the experts, the church itself sustained only minor damage. Four of its 16 stained-glass windows were shattered and another was slightly damaged. "Most of them were saved by protection that had been installed in advance," Boiko added.
The Russian strike also damaged the bell tower, built in 1734. Eight windows in the archive building on the site were shattered.
The windows in the church and the bell tower are currently being boarded up and the stained-glass elements are being dismantled. Boiko added that the Office for the Protection of Cultural Heritage is also engaging experts to assess the damage and draw up a plan for the repairs.
For reference: Built in the 17th century as part of the city's defensive system, the Bernardine Monastery is one of Lviv's main historical landmarks. The site combines Renaissance and Baroque architectural features and is an important part of the historic area, which is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The monastery building now belongs to the Central State Historical Archive of Ukraine in Lviv, one of the largest archives in Central and Eastern Europe and the largest in Ukraine. It holds one of the oldest and richest collections of documents from the 12th century to the first half of the 20th century, covering the history of Ukraine and a large part of Europe.
Background:
- On the afternoon of 24 March, Russian forces struck central Lviv with attack drones, damaging the Bernardine Monastery. The historic centre of Lviv is on UNESCO's List of Cultural Property under Enhanced Protection.
- Ukraine's Foreign Ministry has reached an agreement with UNESCO for experts to inspect the damage caused by the Russian drone strike on Lviv.
- UNESCO said it is "deeply alarmed" by the strikes on the Bernardine Monastery and stands ready to assess the damage and provide assistance.
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