Russian military attacked the territory of the Kamianska Sich National Nature Park, a part of the Khortytsia National Reserve, as reported by the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine.
“The cultural facility located in Kherson Oblast includes the grave of the hetman Kost Hordiienko and the cemetery of Zaporizhzhian Cossacks from the first half of the 18th century,” added the ministry.
The cultural monument suffered three powerful explosions. Video footage of the attack appeared on Russian Telegram channels. For the first time, the occupiers attacked the immediate location of the former Kamianska Sich. There are yet-to-be-explored iron and pottery complex production facilities from the first half of the 18th century.
“The second strike occurred on the territory of the modern tourist site, where a lapidary is located, presenting stone monuments (grain mills, hoppers, etc.) near the cross and the grave of hetman Kost Hordiienko and the entrance gates of the Sich, built in 2009. This place also features a grotto and the remains of the former estate of landowner Aharkov,” the ministry explained.
Employees of the Khortytsia National Reserve are documenting the consequences of the attack. “The aggressor country has already caused damage to over 120 national heritage sites. Today, Russia struck another blow to our heritage, targeting Kamianska Sich. This once again proves that the Russian Federation is deliberately destroying our material culture to erase Ukrainians as a nation. However, it will not succeed: Russia will not be able to escape punishment for its crimes and will be held accountable for them in international courts,” said the Acting Minister of Culture and Information Policy, Rostyslav Karandieiev.
Kamianska Sich was one of the last administrative and military centers of the Zaporizhzhian Host during its time under the protection of the Crimean Khanate in the first third of the 18th century, according to the ministry.
Cover: Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture
