Russian drone strike on Kyiv's Caves Monastery was deliberate – OSINT analysis, photos

Jun 22, 2026 - 15:11

Russian forces deliberately struck the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra (the Monastery of the Caves) with a drone during a combined attack on 15 June, Ukrainian analysts have said, citing the UAV's flight route and impact trajectory.

Source: press service for Terrecon, a Ukrainian intelligence organisation

Details: The strike on the Lavra was carried out using a Geran-2 drone. The Security Service of Ukraine previously posted photos of wreckage from the UAV.

According to an OSINT analysis by Terrecon, the drone was launched from the Tsimbulova drone base in Russia's Oryol Oblast at 22:57 on 14 June. A group of drones reached the city of Brovary near Kyiv at approximately 00:41 and likely split into four or five groups before moving towards Kyiv's Darnytskyi district.

The drone that struck the Lavra was launched from Russia's Oryol Oblast Photo: Terrecon

Quote: "Reports emerged of a single Shahed moving towards Rusanivka at the same time. At 01:14, one Shahed flew over Rusanivka and crossed the Dnipro River. At 01:17-01:18, several Telegram channels reported a lone UAV in Kyiv's Pecherskyi district. A minute later, one of the Shaheds struck the St Stephen's Chapel of the Dormition Cathedral on the grounds of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra."

The Geran-2 flight path over Kyiv before striking the Dormition Cathedral Photo: Terrecon

Details: Terrecon explained that the strike on the cathedral had been recorded at 01:19:31 on Monday 15 June. Photos and videos from the moment of the strike contain the sound of a single explosion, which refutes Russian claims that the drone had been intercepted or that the cathedral had been "hit by a Ukrainian air defence system".

Quote: "The Russians claimed that its targets were the Radar plant, a military recruitment centre in the Pecherskyi district and the Arsenal instrument-making facility. However, if we consider the scenario in which the Shaheds approached from the Dnipro delta, all of those targets, except for the Pechersk recruitment centre, lie outside the strike trajectory."

Impact site in the Dormition Cathedral Photo: Terrecon

Details: Terrecon also identified a Russian serviceman who may have been involved in the attack. Launches from the Tsimbulova drone base are coordinated by the Varyag unit of Russia's 50th Brigade, previously known as GROM Kaskad. The OSINT analysts believe that brigade officer Aleksei Laguta, whose alias is "Pomoshchnik" ("Assistant"), may have been involved in launching the group of Geran-2 drones, one of which struck the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra.

Russian officer Aleksei Laguta may have been involved in the strike on the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra Photo: Terrecon

For reference: Terrecon was founded by Ukrainian military personnel. The organisation currently employs over 20 intelligence experts working in open-source intelligence, human intelligence, network threats, GEOINT (geospatial intelligence) and cyber investigations.

Background:

Russia launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine on the night of 14-15 June. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian forces had launched 681 aerial assets, 632 of which were intercepted.
The Dormition Cathedral caught fire as a result of the Russian strike on the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra.