Russian Attacks Kill About 120 Clergy in Ukraine
Attacks have also damaged more than 800 religious institutions, some about a thousand years old, Zelensky says.
Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Catholicism
Russian attacks have killed about 120 members of the clergy in Ukraine and damaged over 800 religious institutions, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. Religious sites were struck with drones and both cruise and ballistic missiles.
Why it matters
The reported losses extend beyond individual casualties to historic houses of worship that many communities rely on. Zelensky raised the issue while meeting Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church, in Istanbul.
The figures come from Zelensky's statements in an interview, and the source does not say how the totals were verified. The count covers about 120 clergy killed and more than 800 religious institutions damaged in Russian attacks.
The players
Volodymyr Zelensky
Zelensky is the president of Ukraine, who has led the country's government through the war with Russia.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
Bartholomew is the spiritual leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church, based in Istanbul, and a central figure in Orthodox Christianity worldwide.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan is the president of Turkey, who hosted talks with Zelensky during his visit to the country.
The details
Religious institutions were attacked en masse with drones and both cruise and ballistic missiles, and clergy were killed in targeted attacks on people, churches and other religious institutions. The All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations, which includes representatives of 15 churches and religious groups, is part of the response.
Timeline
Oct. 31, 2026: Zelensky reported the clergy deaths and building damage in an interview.
Oct. 31, 2026: Zelensky met Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Istanbul while in Turkey for talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Culture Shift
The damage to sites up to a thousand years old places the conflict within a long history of threats to Ukraine's religious heritage. Recent attacks on houses of worship show how the war has extended from military targets into the country's religious and cultural life.
Readers following Ukraine's religious communities may see changes in how congregations gather and worship as buildings are damaged or destroyed. Attacks on clergy also affect the spiritual leadership available to communities in the affected areas.
The takeaway
Damage to religious sites and deaths among clergy affect entire communities, not only those who attend services. Following trusted reporting on these losses helps readers understand the human cost of the conflict.
Further reading
For more on how faith communities are navigating the conflict, explore our Catholicism coverage.
