Embassy of the Vatican in Kyiv Damaged During Drone Attack
During a drone and missile attack on Kyiv in the early hours of July 10, 2025, the main building and office premises of the Apostolic Nunciature of the Vatican sustained damage from drone debris that struck two residential buildings nearby. Reports 24brussels.
Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine, detailed the incident in an interview, highlighting that the attack unfolded during the night of July 9 to 10, when Kyiv endured a significant missile and drone assault from Russia. This attack resulted in damage to the Vatican’s embassy located in the Shevchenkivskyi district.
According to Archbishop Kulbokas, explosions occurred directly adjacent to the Nunciature building, damaging the roof, garage, and office spaces as debris fell just meters from his residence. Initial assessments indicated that a drone, rather than a missile, was responsible for the strike, and there were no reported injuries among the staff.
The Archbishop emphasized that attacks have become markedly more intense compared to 2023 and 2024. He reported that over three hours, dozens of drones circled the sky above Kyiv before missile explosions erupted. Drones reportedly flew directly over the diplomatic mission, some possibly equipped with incendiary devices. Properties in the city caught fire, and toxic smoke filled the air, making it dangerous to open windows.
He noted that the Shevchenkivskyi district, home to many embassies, is one of the most frequently attacked areas in Kyiv, second only to frontline cities. Due to the aftermath of the shelling, embassy staff could not reach work on time as streets were blocked with debris.
Alongside the Nuncio, nuns from the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul, as well as Edward Kava, the coadjutor bishop of the Kamianets-Podilskyi diocese, were present in the building. They spent the night awake, prepared for evacuation but ultimately decided to remain.
The Nuncio called on Catholics to pray for peace in Ukraine.
On July 9, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Pope Leo XIV at the Castel Gandolfo residence near Rome. They discussed the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, seeking long-term and just paths to peace.
Pope Leo XIV also reaffirmed readiness to host peace talks involving representatives from both Russia and Ukraine at the Vatican.
