On July 10, the Vatican Embassy in Kiev announced that the diplomatic facility had been damaged in a new Russian airstrike on the Ukrainian capital.
According to the official announcement, the main building and some auxiliary areas of the Embassy suffered damage during the attack that took place in the early morning.
arch-rival Visvaldas Kulbokas, Union Ambassador to Ukraine, said he had seen many drones appear around the Embassy grounds and heard many explosions. He said the damage could have come from a drone attack rather than a missile. The roof and garage of the Embassy are the areas directly affected.
We have collected about 10 pieces of quite large debris, and I believe it is a drone, he said. Luckily, none of us were injured. But it's stunning to see explosions happen so close."
The attack comes amid a more than three-year-long international conference on the conflict being held in Rome, where Kiev has received billion-dollar aid pledges.
The day before the airstrike, Pope Leo XIV met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Vatican. During the meeting, the Pope affirmed his readiness to organize peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine if both sides agree.
The Vatican currently has official diplomatic relations with about 180 countries and maintains embassies in many major capitals around the world. The Vatican ambassadors are known for their steadfast spirit, often staying in office even during conflicts, and rarely evacuating from the region.
