Holy Ascension Cathedral in Sumy damaged by Russian attack – photos
The Holy Ascension Cathedral in Sumy was damaged as a result of a Russian attack on the evening of 26 July.
Source: Suspilne Sumy
Details: The Holy Ascension Cathedral is the main church of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in the city and is a monument of national architectural significance.
It was the first stone church in Sumy, built in the late 17th to early 18th century at the expense of the first Sumy colonels, Herasym and Andrii Kondratiev. Its original appearance has not been preserved, but the church remains an example of Cossack Baroque architecture.
During Soviet times, the cathedral was used as a storage facility by the regional supply authority, and later housed the decorative and applied arts department of the Sumy Art Museum for many years.
This is not the first time the cathedral has been hit by Russian forces. On 11 September 2025, its façade was damaged in an attack. At the time, a liturgy was taking place inside, but no one was injured.
Background:
- On the evening of 26 July, five civilians were injured in a Russian strike on the Sumy hromada. Houses, infrastructure facilities and transport were also damaged. Seven guided aerial bombs were used in the attack. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories – ed.]
- Earlier this month, the Shchepkin Theatre and the regional library in central Sumy were also damaged.
Your support on Patreon helps us keep the news free and accessible.