On the night of Monday, Russian forces launched a barrage of 70 missiles and 611 drones that struck the Ukrainian capital and the northeast city of Kharkiv, killing at least 11 civilians and five rescue workers.
The most devastating blow came to Kyiv’s historic Dormition Cathedral, a 11th‑century church that is part of the UNESCO‑listed Kyiv‑Pechersk Lavra monastic complex. Flames engulfed the white and golden domes and a large hole appeared in the façade.
President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack as a “biggest Russian crime against Christian culture” and urged the international community to take decisive action at the upcoming G7 leaders’ meeting.
French President Emmanuel Macron and EU foreign‑policy chief Kaja Kallas both denounced the strike as a war crime and called for increased pressure on Russia.
Russia denied striking the cathedral, instead claiming a misfired Patriot missile—an American‑made air‑defence system—had caused the damage, though no evidence was provided.
The incident marks yet another blow to the cathedral, which has suffered repeated attacks since Russia’s full‑scale invasion began in 2022.
