Russian shelling in Donetsk region damages 110-year-old church

Russian shelling has partially destroyed a 110-year-old Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the village of Novoekonomichne, Donetsk region.

The Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine reported this on Telegram, Ukrinform reports.

"The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary was damaged in the village of Novoekonomichne, Donetsk region, on July 8. It survived the Soviet rule, the battles of the Second World War and the German occupation, but it was destroyed by Russian aggression," the post said.

The ministry recalled that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe had recently adopted a resolution stating that the deliberate destruction of cultural heritage and the erasure of cultural identity in Ukraine are war crimes, crimes against humanity and evidence of genocidal intent to destroy Ukrainian national identity.

"The loss of every cultural object is the loss of a part of our history. It is a reminder to us of the need to protect our cultural heritage and what price we pay for our freedom. The enemy will bear full responsibility for every crime against people, against our culture and our identity," the ministry said.

Photos: Ukrainian Orthodox Church / Telegram