The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has adopted a decision to include a number of cultural heritage sites in the Donetsk region in the State Register of Immovable Monuments of Ukraine as monuments of national significance, upon the recommendation of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, which was formulated based on proposals from the Department of Culture and Tourism of the Donetsk Regional State Administration.
This is an important step toward the preservation and proper protection of the region’s cultural heritage amid the Russian Federation’s armed aggression against Ukraine.
Specifically, the following have been added to the Register:
In the city of Druzhkivka:
- St. Nicholas Church;
In the city of Svyatogorsk – the complex of monuments of the Svyatogorsk Assumption Monastery (Holy Assumption Svyatogorsk Monastery (Lavra) of the Donetsk Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church):
- St. Nicholas Church;
- Assumption Cathedral;
- Hotel (Building No. 9);
- Abbot’s Residence;
- Monks’ Cells (Building No. 4);
- Complex of cave structures;
- Upper Pilgrims’ Pavilion;
- Lower Pilgrims’ Pavilion;
- Western Tower;
- Eastern Tower;
- Intercession Church with bell tower.
The inclusion of these sites in the State Register ensures their legal protection, promotes the preservation of their authenticity and historical and cultural value, and draws greater attention from the state and the international community to the need for their protection.
St. Nicholas Church in Druzhkivka is an important architectural landmark of the urban environment and shapes the historical image of the city center. Unfortunately, as a result of the Russian Federation’s armed aggression, the monument has sustained damage; however, it remains extremely valuable to us as a symbol of historical memory, spirituality, and the community’s cultural identity.
The Svyatogorsk Assumption Monastery is one of the oldest spiritual and cultural centers in eastern Ukraine, a unique complex of sacred, architectural, and natural heritage.
The Department of Culture and Tourism of the Regional State Administration, in collaboration with cultural heritage protection agencies, continues its systematic efforts to identify, document, and prepare materials for the inclusion of sites in the State Register of Immovable Monuments of Ukraine.
Under martial law, this work is of particular importance, as it aims to preserve cultural heritage, document its condition, and ensure its protection for future generations.