Russian Strikes Kill at Least 11 in Ukraine, Damage Historic Kyiv Cathedral

At least 11 people have been killed in Russian strikes across Ukraine, including attacks on Kyiv and Kharkiv, with residential areas and infrastructure badly damaged. A historic 11th-century cathedral in Kyiv was also hit and severely damaged, sparking international condemnation, while both sides blamed each other for parts of the destruction.

At least 11 people have been killed following a wave of Russian missile and drone strikes across Ukraine, according to President , with attacks causing widespread destruction and setting fire to a major religious landmark in Kyiv.

Officials said four people were killed in the Ukrainian capital after residential buildings were hit during overnight strikes, while another five deaths occurred in the north-eastern city of Kharkiv when rescue workers responding to a fire were killed in a second wave of attacks. Ukrainian authorities described the incidents as part of one of the most intense bombardments in recent months.

One of the most significant cultural losses reported was damage to the 11th-century Dormition Cathedral, part of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The cathedral suffered major structural damage, with flames seen rising from its roof and a large section of the building destroyed.

President Zelenskyy condemned the strike, describing it as one of the most serious attacks on Christian cultural heritage in recent history. Russia, however, denied deliberately targeting the religious site, claiming instead that the damage may have resulted from a Ukrainian air defence missile system.

The Lavra complex, one of Ukraine’s most important spiritual and cultural centres, has historical significance dating back centuries and has previously suffered damage during earlier phases of the ongoing conflict. Ukrainian officials confirmed that the fire at the cathedral was eventually extinguished, though the extent of structural damage remains under assessment.

In addition to the fatalities in Kyiv and Kharkiv, Ukrainian authorities reported widespread destruction across multiple regions. Drone and missile strikes sparked fires in residential buildings and vehicles, and left more than 140,000 residents in Kyiv temporarily without electricity.

Kyiv Mayor said at least 23 people were injured in the capital alone, while President Zelenskyy stated that a total of 53 people were wounded nationwide in the attacks.

Ukrainian officials reported that Russia launched approximately 70 missiles and more than 600 drones in the coordinated overnight assault, describing it as one of the largest combined air attacks in recent months. Most of Ukraine remained under air raid alerts on Monday morning as emergency services responded to multiple impact sites.

The strikes drew strong international reactions. French President condemned the attack on the cathedral, calling it an unacceptable assault on global cultural heritage. He emphasized that nothing could justify damage to universally significant religious and historical sites.

European Union foreign policy chief also condemned the strikes, describing them as war crimes, particularly due to their impact on civilians and cultural landmarks.

The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, where the Dormition Cathedral is located, is recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a site of outstanding universal value. The UN agency strongly condemned the attack, warning that damage to such heritage sites undermines cultural identity and social cohesion.

“Damage to such institutions deprives communities of access to culture, education and shared spaces that are essential for recovery and social cohesion,” UNESCO said in a statement.

The current escalation comes ahead of a Group of Seven (G7) summit in France, where the war in Ukraine is expected to be a central topic of discussion. President Zelenskyy urged world leaders to respond decisively by increasing military assistance, particularly air defence systems and anti-missile support.

He also confirmed that he had recently spoken with former U.S. President regarding efforts to find a path toward ending the conflict.

Meanwhile, Russian authorities said Ukrainian forces carried out a drone strike in the city of Tula, killing three people and injuring several others, including a one-year-old child. Moscow also claimed that its military strikes were aimed at Ukrainian defence infrastructure, although it did not provide independent verification for its claims.

Russia further stated that a U.S.-made Patriot air defence missile may have been responsible for damaging the cathedral, though it provided no evidence to support this assertion.

The war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, continues to escalate with both sides intensifying aerial attacks, resulting in mounting civilian casualties, infrastructure damage, and growing international concern.