Zelenskiy said Russian artillery hit an early 17th century Ukrainian Orthodox monastery in eastern Ukraine

Zelenskiy said Russian artillery hit an early 17th century Ukrainian Orthodox monastery in eastern Ukraine

Russia’s Defence Ministry denied involvement, accusing Ukrainian troops of setting fire to the All Saints Monastery in Donetsk before pulling back, Qazet.az reports according to Reuters.

Flames could be seen ripping through the timber walls of a church with domes in footage posted by Zelenskiy on his official Telegram channel. Reuters could not immediately verify the authenticity of the footage.

“Russian artillery struck the Svyatohirsk Lavra in the Donetsk region again today. Destroyed All Saints Monastery. It was consecrated in 1912,” the Ukrainian leader wrote.

“It was first destroyed during the Soviet era. Later it was rebuilt to be burned by the Russian army.”