Kyiv: A wave of Russian airstrikes on Ukraine has caused a fire at the main church of the historic Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ukrainian officials reported significant damage across the capital and a rise in civilian casualties nationwide. According to Ukrainian authorities, there were at least 11 deaths and dozens of injuries nationwide.
According to Ghana News Agency, in Kiev alone, authorities reported five deaths and 35 injuries. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for increased pressure on Russia and more support for Ukraine's air defense systems, particularly against ballistic missile attacks. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that an upcoming summit would focus on intensifying pressure on Russia and advocating for peace negotiations to bring an end to the ongoing conflict.
The Russian assault on Kiev involved more than 60 missiles and cruise missiles, with a total of 611 drones and 70 missiles deployed overnight, Zelensky stated. The fire that broke out at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery, a site with origins dating back to the 11th century, has been extinguished but marked what Zelensky described as a significant attack on Christian cultural heritage.
Tymur Tkachenko, the military governor of Kiev, reported severe damage within the monastery grounds, which are owned by the Ukrainian state. The Russian Defence Ministry attributed the attacks to retaliation against what it termed "terrorist attacks by the Kiev regime" in Russia, targeting drone and missile production facilities in Kiev. The ministry also claimed, without verification, that a Ukrainian air defense missile caused the fire at the monastery.
The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) countered by showing images of debris from a Russian "Geran" kamikaze drone, based on Iran's Shahed design, found on the monastery grounds. Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported strikes in three city districts, causing fires, power outages, and the destruction of about 30 vehicles. Military officials noted over 40 impacts in the capital, with nearly two dozen explosions reported overnight.
Beyond Kiev, Russia attacked several other Ukrainian cities, including Kharkiv, where an assault on rescue workers resulted in five deaths. Attacks in Dnipropetrovsk targeted a railway station, a university, and various companies. The regions of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhya, Sumy, and Mykolaiv were also hit, highlighting Russia's continued aggressive stance, as emphasized by Zelensky.
On the Russian side, the governor of the Tula region, Dmitry Milyaev, reported three fatalities and three injuries due to Ukrainian drone strikes. The Russian Defence Ministry noted multiple drones were intercepted over Moscow, with no reported damage in the capital.