The village of Lukianivka lies in the Brovary district of Kyiv region, about 15 km north of Baryshivka (it previously belonged to Baryshivka district). For over 140 years, the wooden Church of the Ascension stood in its center — a rare monument of Ukrainian wooden architecture from the second half of the 19th century. In March 2022, it was destroyed by Russian troops. Now, ruins stand in this spot, having become one of the symbols of the war in Kyiv region.
Two churches in one place
The first church in Lukianivka was built in 1758. In 1879, a new wooden church was built opposite it, and the old one was soon dismantled; its bricks were used for the foundation of the new church. The site where the first church stood remained undeveloped.
The Church of the Ascension had a restrained yet festive appearance: a log frame clad in boards and painted blue, green domes, a large spherical dome over the center, and a bell tower over the entrance. Few such wooden churches have survived on the Left Bank.
In 1930, the Soviet authorities closed the church. Services resumed in 1941, during the German occupation, and the church remained open ever since. Most recently, it belonged to the Boryspil Eparchy of the UOC (MP).
March 2022
At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russian troops advancing on Kyiv from the east occupied Lukianivka. At the end of March, the Armed Forces of Ukraine liberated the village. During their retreat, on the night of March 25, 2022, a Russian tank shot up the church point-blank with several rounds. According to the rector, at four in the morning, four tank shells destroyed the church completely.
The surviving dome with a cross and icons were taken to Kyiv. In May 2022, they were displayed at the exhibition "Ukraine — Crucifixion" at the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War — one of the first exhibitions about the Russian invasion.
The community has not abandoned the site and still gathers near the foundation. Radio Svoboda reported on how people celebrated Easter here four years after the liberation of the village.
How to get there
Lukianivka is about 70 km east of Kyiv. The easiest way to get there is via the Kyiv — Kharkiv highway to Baryshivka, and from there head north. The ruins stand in the center of the village; nearby is a mass grave of Second World War soldiers and a monument to fellow villagers.
Tip
This is not a tourist site, but a place of memory and prayer for the community. Behave quietly, do not step onto the remains of the foundation, and do not take debris for souvenirs. Photography is permitted, but if a prayer or service is taking place near the ruins, it is better to wait.
Read more about the region in the article about Kyiv Polissia.
