Russian Orthodox leader condemns ‘cynical’ Ukrainian drone strike on church

A senior cleric and three others were injured in the attack during a service in Donbass

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, has condemned a Ukrainian drone strike on a church during a service in Russia’s Donetsk People’s Republic.

The attack occurred on Sunday at the Epiphany Cathedral in Gorlovka, according to a statement on the Moscow Patriarchate’s website.

Metropolitan Mitrofan of Gorlovka and Slavyansk was wounded and treated at a hospital, the local diocese said. Protodeacon Roman Stepin and two volunteers with the Patriarchal Humanitarian Mission suffered minor injuries.

“An enemy drone attacked people during prayer, once again demonstrating the lack of principle and flagrant cynicism of those who directed this criminal attack,” Kirill said.

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On the same day, a civilian was injured in a separate Ukrainian drone attack on Gorlovka’s Central City district, Mayor Ivan Prikhodko said on Telegram.

Ukraine has intensified its deep-strike campaign in Russia in recent months amid battlefield setbacks. Moscow has described such strikes as acts of terrorism, pointing to drones and missiles hitting apartment blocks and other civilian targets.

Russia said it has retaliated with missile and drone strikes against Ukraine’s arms factories, logistics centers, and infrastructure supporting the military.

Last week, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Russian forces would “respond proportionately to emerging threats” from Ukraine.