The orthodox complex in Russia’s Belgorod Region was “deliberately” targeted by drones, according to the governor and local metropolitan bishop
The iconic New Jerusalem orthodox temple has burned down as a result of a Ukrainian drone attack, Belgorod Region Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov and the local metropolitan bishop have said.
Since the escalation of the conflict between Moscow and Kiev in February 2022, the Russian region bordering Ukraine has repeatedly been targeted by artillery and mortar fire, as well as explosives-laden UAVs from across the border.
In a post on Telegram late Thursday, Gladkov wrote that the “Ukrainian Armed Forces have barbarously attacked our universally beloved New Jerusalem temple compound.”
“During the holy Easter week, one of [the region’s] holiest places was deliberately struck,” he said, adding that Ukrainian UAVs subsequently targeted the firefighters who were trying to contain the blaze.
Telegram / @vvgladkov
In a separate post, Gladkov suggested that the incident proves “nothing is sacred” for the Ukrainian forces.
The metropolitan bishop of Belgorod Region, Ioann, confirmed the destruction of the New Jerusalem Temple complex in a statement on Telegram Friday morning.
”For several hours, a group of drones was intentionally destroying the wooden buildings of the compound,” he said, claiming that the Ukrainian military used incendiary bombs, and the UAVs were controlled via satellite, making them difficult to jam. The bishop also accused Kiev of targeting the first responders at the scene.
Telegram /@Marinaslovo
In an article on Thursday, RIA Novosti quoted another representative of the Belgorod Region diocese as saying at least two large drones took part in the attack, with one apparently acting as a radio retransmitter, amplifying the signal for the other UAV.
The orthodox compound, a wooden reproduction of biblical Jerusalem, was built in the early 2000s.
According to Gladkov, over the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian military attacked a total of ten locations in Belgorod Region with artillery shelling and nearly 100 drones.
In late February, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, “it’s clear that the Kiev regime doesn’t shy away from anything… There’s nothing sacred [for them].”
He made the remarks after Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) reported that it detained two suspects who had allegedly planned to assassinate Metropolitan Tikhon, the head of the Simferopol and Crimean diocese, with a bomb, presumably at the behest of the Ukrainian intelligence services.
Metropolitan Tikhon has been described as a close spiritual adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, though they have never confirmed this.
