Over the weekend, a Russian drone strike destroyed a historic 18th century church in the Kherson region of Ukraine. “The church withstood many historical shocks and Soviet anti-religious campaigns, but was destroyed by fire due to the Russian attack,” a Facebook post from the Kherson Regional State Administration reads in part. As of July 2026, Russia has damaged or destroyed around 2000 cultural heritage sites in Ukraine since its assault began in 2022, per the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture. Just days ago, a Russian missile hit the roof of the Kharkiv Art Museum, causing extensive damage and wounding six people, including a baby. In addition to missile targeting, Russia has also looted thousands of Ukrainian cultural objects since the beginning of the war.