Ukraine–Russia

Russian FPV drone strikes Bizyukov (St Gregory) monastery in Chervonyi Maiak, Kherson Oblast; 71-year-old priest killed, four priests injured

This version is a correction.

ATTACK
Location
Bizyukov (St Gregory Bizyukov) monastery, Chervonyi Maiak, Kherson Oblast (Wikidata Q4086520; facility-level)
Actors
Russia · Ukraine
Importance
Standard

About 15:00 Kyiv time on 19 September 2026 (≈12:00 UTC), a Russian FPV drone struck the Bizyukov (St Gregory Bizyukov / Свято-Григоріївський Бізюків) men's monastery in the village of Chervonyi Maiak (Chervonyi Mayak), Novoraisk hromada, Beryslav district, Kherson Oblast, Kherson OVA head Oleksandr Prokudin said via Telegram as carried by Ukrinform, Ukrainska Pravda, UNN and Mezha. A 71-year-old priest was killed (injuries incompatible with life); four other priests aged 31, 51, 51 and 53 were injured with preliminary blast/shrapnel (mine-blast) injuries. Facility coordinates from Wikidata Q4086520 (≈46.95417N 33.60944E); wires did not publish a named victim list beyond ages.

Why it matters

A named FPV strike on the historic Bizyukov monastery that killed a priest and wounded four others is a rare church-site civilian kinetic in Kherson Oblast with multi-wire OVA corroboration.

  • Fatalities: Best 1 · Confidence: Probable · Evidence: Ukrinform: Russian drone hits monastery in Kherson region, killing priest, injuring four, Ukrainska Pravda: Russian drone strikes monastery in Kherson Oblast; priest killed, UNN: Russians struck a monastery with a drone; one priest killed, four injured, Mezha: Russian drone strikes monastery in Kherson region, UA.News: RF strike on monastery in Kherson Oblast kills priest · 71-year-old priest killed (injuries incompatible with life) — Prokudin via Ukrinform/Pravda/UNN.
  • Injuries: Best 4 · Confidence: Probable · Evidence: Ukrinform: Russian drone hits monastery in Kherson region, killing priest, injuring four, Ukrainska Pravda: Russian drone strikes monastery in Kherson Oblast; priest killed, UNN: Russians struck a monastery with a drone; one priest killed, four injured, Mezha: Russian drone strikes monastery in Kherson region, UA.News: RF strike on monastery in Kherson Oblast kills priest · Four priests aged 31, 51, 51 and 53 — preliminary blast/shrapnel (mine-blast) injuries.

Verification: Probable

Evidence: Ukrinform: Russian drone hits monastery in Kherson region, killing priest, injuring four, Ukrainska Pravda: Russian drone strikes monastery in Kherson Oblast; priest killed, UNN: Russians struck a monastery with a drone; one priest killed, four injured, Mezha: Russian drone strikes monastery in Kherson region, UA.News: RF strike on monastery in Kherson Oblast kills priest, Wikidata Q4086520 Bizyukov monastery, UK Wikipedia: St Gregory Bizyukov monastery, Chervonyi Maiak

PROBABLE via Prokudin (Ukrinform/Pravda/UNN/Mezha/UA.News): FPV drone hit monastery in Chervonyi Maiak ~15:00 Kyiv 19 Sep; 71yo priest killed; four priests (31/51/51/53) blast injuries. Identity pinned as Bizyukov / St Gregory Bizyukov monastery via Wikidata Q4086520 + Ukrainian Wikipedia (facility in the village). Exact victim names unpublished.