I visited the Pechersk Lavra with Boston Brian @BostonBrian

[00:00:00]Hey guys.

[00:00:02]We just completed the tour at the Petroes Lavra. This is the cave monastery in Kyiv. It's almost a thousand years old. I'm with my good friend here, Boston Brian. I'll link his socials down below if you guys want to check him out. He Did you drive one of the vehicles?

[00:00:16]>> did. I did. We raised the funds for it and I had the honor and the privilege of taking that same vehicle from Estonia into Kyiv. And it's a true honor and a a real privilege to be able to be a small piece of the cog in this machine.

[00:00:30]>> So the truck handoff was yesterday. I posted some videos. I've got some more interviews with some Ukrainian defenders that I'm going to slowly post over the next couple days.

[00:00:38]We got this fantastic opportunity to go to the Petroes Lavra. And we're currently at the top of the bell tower.

[00:00:45]Let's let's see where is the uh >> I think your best angle's over here maybe.

[00:00:52]>> the Motherland monument is that way, but I think this is the best view.

[00:00:58]And yeah, you can see it right here.

[00:01:00]This is the you know, the main main church.

[00:01:04]And this is what the Russians hit on Was it June 15th or >> Somewhere in there.

[00:01:09]>> Yeah, this was a couple weeks ago.

[00:01:11]Kaylin Robertson was the only journalist on site that got video during the fire.

[00:01:16]Shortly after this Russian drone hit the rooftop, set the building on fire. And we on the tour got to walk up to like one of the doors. And you can still smell the smoke. You know, the charred roof caught fire and then uh you know, there was water damage, but they're doing their best to restore this place.

[00:01:38]Taking the tour, this isn't the first time the Russians have destroyed this place. During World War II, the Germans managed to spare it, not to destroy it, but the Soviets were less less considerate. And in 1941, this place actually was destroyed and had to be rebuilt. But the bell tower we're in, they told us that Germans a architects in like the 1800s, constructed this place.

[00:02:00]And yeah, we walked up to the top. We've got this fantastic view of the city.

[00:02:04]Brian, what are what's your impressions of this place and this tour?

[00:02:07]>> Well, I mean, looking at sites like this and seeing what the Russians are capable of, it really gives you, you know, meaning to what this fight is for the people of Ukraine. I mean, it is it's a fight against the civilians. The Russians are not going after justifiable military targets at all. They're trying to cause the most pain and the most harm to the Ukrainian civilians. And to be able to help them out in any way, shape, or form, the civilians, the military, it's like I continue to say, just a real honor and a true privilege to be able to do that. So, I mean, it's The beauty of of Kyiv is it kind of speaks for itself.

[00:02:39]So, I mean, to be to be able to be here and see it firsthand is is truly an experience. So, I I appreciate you giving me the opportunity and the time and everything that you do for this community and, you know, raising funds.

[00:02:49]It's unbelievable the speed in which you're able to get these campaigns done.

[00:02:53]I was just absolutely blown away by the community and how much they gave to this. So, congratulations to you.

[00:02:58]Congrats to the community. And thank you to everybody that contributes, that participates, that shares, and likes, and tries to get the news out there because it's amazing how many people still don't know exactly what's going on here in Ukraine. So, the the more we can spread the word, the better it is. So, you're unbelievable doing that. And it's just, like I said, it's a it's an honor to meet you here. So, I appreciate it.

[00:03:17]>> Thank you so much, Brian. We've We've done a couple of collabs on his channel, but to actually meet these people in person, it feels real.

[00:03:24]All right. I don't know if this is the highest point in the city. We're on the right bank of the river. We were going through this tour and underneath this entire complex on the right bank, there's all these catacombs where saints have been buried over the centuries. And like To me, it feels like I'm in a movie. You know, when you look at these statues and these murals and paintings and how historic and old it all is. Like this is like Roman Empire stuff. Like Constantinople, the Byzantine Empire.

[00:03:52]The history is here, the culture is here, and I I would rather Ukraine was controlling and preserving this place cuz they actually have respect for the history and the culture. Whereas if the Russians took this, they would just warp it to their own twisted propaganda and narrative to serve the power of Putin and the oligarchs. So, this is what Ukraine's fighting for. They're not just fighting for their own sovereignty and nation. They're fighting for collective history. In my opinion, anything that's over 500 years old that belongs to collective human civilization. Like this is all of our history. Like I don't have any Ukrainian heritage, but I feel a connection to a place that's a thousand years old.

[00:04:30]And uh yeah, this is a privilege and an honor to meet this place and to experience it firsthand.

[00:04:36]>> Well, like you said, once you feel and get the the sense of the history here, it it it really gives you a you know, an example and a reason to come and continue fighting for the people here.

[00:04:44]So, again, it's it's pretty evident. I mean, you don't get stuff like this everywhere, and to preserve this, to be able to be a part of preserving this is is truly meaningful and impactful. It really is.

[00:04:55]>> The tour guide was wonderful. If you want to make the trip here, even though the war is still going on, you can. This place is open to tourists, but if you want to wait until things calm down, Kyiv is a fantastic destination to spend your tourism dollars, and Ukrainians would welcome you.

[00:05:09]>> Absolutely. Slava Ukraini heroyam slava.

[00:05:11]And thank you again to you and your community. It's amazing what you guys are capable of, and just keep fighting, guys. Keep fighting.

[00:05:17]>> Take care, everyone.