Four churches damaged by shelling in Kursk region

TULA, August 15Four churches and a monastery in the border areas of the Kursk region were damaged due to shelling by the Ukrainian armed forces, said Father Sergiy Klintsov, head of the press service of the Kursk diocese.
«As of August 14, 2024, the following churches and monasteries of the Kursk diocese were damaged as a result of shelling by the Ukrainian Armed Forces: the Gornal Nikolaevsky Belogorsky Monastery (Nikolaevsky Church, Pokrovsky Church, buildings and outbuildings), the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the village of Guevo, Sudzhansky District, Kursk Region, the Church of St. Theodosius of Chernigov in the village of Popovo-Lezhachi, Glushkovsky District, the Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the village of Alekseyevka, Glushkovsky District, and the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross in the village of Cherkasskoye Porechnoye, Sudzhansky District, Kursk Region,» the press service of the Kursk diocese reported.

According to Klintsov, there are about 22 churches in the area where military operations are taking place, including two churches of the Gornalsky Monastery.

He also specified that one of the priests is currently in the church in the territory occupied by the enemy.
«One priest remains in his parish in the territory temporarily occupied by the enemy. There is still no contact with him. According to unspecified information, he is alive,» the head of the press service of the Kursk diocese said.

At 5.30 a.m. on August 6, Ukrainian Armed Forces units launched an offensive to seize territory in the Kursk region, their advance was stopped, said Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov. He emphasized that the operation in the Kursk region will be completed by defeating the enemy and reaching the state border. As the Russian Defense Ministry reported on August 15, during the fighting in the Kursk direction, the Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 2,640 soldiers and 37 tanks.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the Kiev regime had carried out a provocation, was firing indiscriminately, including at civilian targets. Putin said that the enemy would receive a worthy response, and all of Russia's goals would be achieved.

In the Kursk, as well as the Belgorod and Bryansk regions, a counter-terrorist operation regime is in effect to ensure the safety of citizens.