- UNESCO-listed religious landmark hit during one of the largest drone and missile barrages of the war as Zelenskyy seeks stronger G7 support
Kyiv, Ukraine : One of Eastern Orthodox Christianity’s most revered religious landmarks was damaged in a massive Russian missile and drone assault on Ukraine early Monday, as attacks on the country’s largest cities killed at least 11 people and wounded dozens more, Ukrainian officials said.
The overnight barrage targeted the capital Kyiv, Kharkiv, and other major cities, involving hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles. Among the sites struck was the historic Dormition Cathedral within the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, an 11th-century monastery complex recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack, describing it as evidence that Russia remains committed to continuing the war despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.
“This is how Russia shows the world its intention to continue the war,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the strikes on civilian and cultural sites. He urged G7 leaders meeting in France to respond decisively by increasing pressure on Moscow and strengthening Ukraine’s air-defense capabilities.
The attacks occurred just hours after Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin separately spoke by telephone with U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump, who arrived in France for the G7 summit, said he had productive conversations with both leaders and indicated renewed efforts to pursue a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.
Sacred Cathedral Damaged
Smoke and flames were seen rising from the roof of the Dormition Cathedral after what Ukrainian authorities said were drone strikes. Metropolitan Epiphanius, head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, called the attack a crime against humanity, history, and Christianity.
The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, also known as the Monastery of the Caves, is one of Ukraine’s most significant religious and cultural treasures. The sprawling complex contains ancient churches, monasteries, and underground caves that have served as a pilgrimage destination for centuries.
UNESCO condemned the attack, reporting significant damage to both the exterior and interior of the cathedral. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot compared the strike to an attack on Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral, highlighting its cultural and spiritual significance.
Ukraine’s National Commission for UNESCO accused Russia of attempting to erase Ukrainian history and cultural identity through the destruction of heritage sites and called for increased international pressure on Moscow.
Russia, however, denied responsibility for the damage, claiming without providing evidence that the cathedral may have been struck by a Ukrainian Patriot air-defense missile that had gone off course.
Civilian Casualties Mount
According to Zelenskyy, the nationwide strikes killed 11 people, including civilians and emergency responders, and injured at least 53 others.
In Kyiv alone, five people were killed and more than 30 wounded, including two children aged five and six. Multiple residential buildings suffered severe damage. A 25-story apartment complex, a market, and a grocery store were among the civilian sites hit during a series of strikes in the city’s Shevchenkivskyi district.
Residents sought shelter in underground stations as explosions echoed across the capital and thick black smoke filled the skyline.
The city’s Obolonskyi district also suffered significant damage after a residential building was directly struck.
Massive Air Assault
Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia launched 70 missiles and 611 drones overnight, making it one of the largest aerial assaults of the war. Air defense systems reportedly intercepted or electronically suppressed 632 targets, including 50 missiles and 582 drones.
Despite the successful interceptions, authorities said 20 ballistic missiles and 27 attack drones reached their targets, striking 42 locations across the country.
Russia’s Defense Ministry stated that the attacks targeted military-industrial facilities in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Dnipro, including factories allegedly involved in producing drones and cruise missile components. Moscow also claimed to have struck military recruitment centers and defense production sites.
Diplomatic Efforts Continue
The renewed violence comes as Ukraine seeks greater international support at the G7 summit in France. Zelenskyy is expected to use the gathering to press allies for stronger military assistance and additional sanctions against Russia.
Ukraine has also proposed a meeting involving Zelenskyy, Putin, Trump, and European leaders on the sidelines of the summit, although the Kremlin has not responded to the suggestion.
As diplomatic efforts continue, the latest attacks underscore the continuing intensity of a war that has entered its fifth year, with little sign of a lasting peace agreement in sight.
