Russian Strikes Kill 11, Damage Kyiv Cathedral

Russian overnight strikes across Ukraine killed at least 11 people and severely damaged a historic monastery in Kyiv, triggering a fire at a centuries-old cathedral regarded as a symbol of the country’s spiritual and cultural heritage.

Ukrainian authorities said the attack damaged the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site founded in 1051, during what officials described as the heaviest aerial assault on the capital in nearly two weeks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said a strike set fire to the Dormition Cathedral, a landmark dating back to the 11th century.

“This is an attack on our history,” Zelensky said while visiting the damaged site, vowing that restoration work would follow.

Russia denied responsibility for striking the monastery, calling accusations against Moscow false and claiming the damage was caused by a US-made Patriot air defence missile.

The strikes came after Zelensky said he had discussed efforts to end the more than four-year war with US President Donald Trump ahead of a G7 meeting in France.

In Kyiv, five people were killed and dozens injured after missiles and drones struck the city overnight, according to local authorities. Residents took shelter underground as explosions and fires spread across several districts.

In Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, officials said Russian attacks killed four emergency responders and a municipal worker, while several others were injured.

Authorities in the northeastern city of Sumy reported injuries, including a child, following additional strikes.

Ukraine’s military said Russia launched 70 missiles and 611 drones overnight, adding that air defences intercepted most of them, though ballistic missiles remained a challenge.

Meanwhile, a Ukrainian drone strike on Russia’s Tula region reportedly killed three people and injured several others, including a child.

European leaders condemned the damage to the Kyiv monastery, with officials describing the strike on the UNESCO-listed site as a serious attack on cultural heritage.

The latest violence comes as diplomatic efforts continue to seek an end to the war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.