Historic Kyiv monastery damaged as Russian strikes kill 10 across Ukraine

KYIV, Ukraine — A major Russian aerial assault damaged one of Ukraine’s most important religious and cultural landmarks and killed at least 10 people nationwide overnight, Ukrainian authorities said Monday, in one of the heaviest attacks on the capital in recent weeks.

The strikes damaged the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, a nearly 1,000-year-old monastery complex and UNESCO World Heritage Site that is widely regarded as a symbol of Ukraine’s spiritual and historical identity. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a Russian drone strike set fire to the Dormition Cathedral within the monastery grounds.

“This is an attack on our history,” Zelenskyy said during a visit to the site, pledging that the damaged structures would be restored.

The attack came as diplomatic efforts to end the more than four-year war intensified ahead of a Group of Seven summit in France. Zelenskyy said he discussed pathways toward ending the conflict during a phone conversation Sunday with U.S. President Donald Trump.

According to Kyiv’s military administration, at least five people were killed and dozens injured in the capital. Tymur Tkachenko, head of the city’s military administration, initially reported four fatalities and 34 injuries. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko later said another victim died in hospital.

In northeastern Ukraine, five more people were killed in Kharkiv after Russian strikes hit emergency responders and municipal personnel, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said. At least five others were injured. Authorities in Sumy reported that three people, including a child, were wounded.

Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched 70 missiles and 611 drones overnight. Air defenses intercepted 50 missiles and 582 drones. Air Force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat acknowledged that ballistic missiles remained a significant challenge, noting that only 15 of 34 launched ballistic missiles were intercepted.

The Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, founded in 1051, is among Eastern Europe’s most significant Orthodox Christian sites. The monastery complex has survived centuries of wars, invasions, and political upheaval and is considered a cornerstone of Ukrainian cultural heritage.

Russia denied targeting the monastery, claiming the damage was caused by a U.S.-supplied Patriot air defense missile. Ukrainian officials rejected that explanation, maintaining that a Russian drone struck the site. Reuters reported it could not independently verify competing claims regarding the cause of the damage.

Metropolitan Epifaniy, head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, condemned the attack, calling for stronger international action against Russia’s military campaign.

The strike drew condemnation from European leaders. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot compared the damage to an attack on France’s Notre Dame Cathedral, describing the monastery as an equivalent cultural treasure. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called the attack a “war crime.”

French President Emmanuel Macron said G7 leaders meeting this week would discuss efforts to advance peace initiatives and support Ukraine.

The latest escalation occurred amid renewed diplomatic activity. Zelenskyy recently proposed direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin involving the United States and European partners as part of ceasefire efforts. Britain, Germany, and France expressed support for the proposal, but Moscow rejected it.

Meanwhile, Russia reported casualties from a Ukrainian drone strike on the city of Tula, south of Moscow. Regional authorities said three people were killed and three others, including a one-year-old child, were injured.

Ukraine has also intensified attacks on Russian military, industrial, and energy infrastructure in recent months, seeking to disrupt Moscow’s war capabilities and economic resources. Overnight, Ukrainian forces reportedly struck two bridges connecting Russian-occupied Crimea with other Russian-controlled territories.

Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014 in a move rejected by most of the international community, has faced growing logistical and fuel supply challenges due to repeated Ukrainian attacks on transport and energy infrastructure.

Russia and Ukraine continue to deny intentionally targeting civilians. Independent verification of battlefield claims remains difficult because of ongoing hostilities and restricted access to affected areas.

The war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, remains Europe’s largest armed conflict since World War II and has resulted in tens of thousands of military and civilian casualties, according to international organisations.

Source: Reuters, with background reporting from UNESCO and international agencies