Russian missile and drone strikes on several Ukrainian cities overnight killed at least 11 people, damaged cultural landmarks and intensified calls for stronger international pressure on Moscow as G7 leaders gathered for a summit in France.
The heaviest attacks were reported in Kyiv, where at least five people were killed and 34 others injured after Russia launched a large-scale barrage of missiles and drones. The assault also sparked a fire at the historic Dormition Cathedral within the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra monastery complex, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most significant Orthodox Christian religious centres in Eastern Europe.
Residents in the Ukrainian capital were seen rushing to shelters as air defence systems intercepted incoming projectiles, with debris falling across several districts of the city.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack on the monastery, describing it as a serious assault on Christian heritage.
“This is one of Russia’s most serious crimes against Christian culture to date,” Zelensky said, urging leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) nations to adopt a “decisive and substantive” response and provide additional support for Ukraine’s air defence capabilities.
Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched 70 missiles and 611 drones during the overnight assault, primarily targeting Kyiv. It said air defence units intercepted 50 missiles and 582 drones.
Russia’s Defence Ministry confirmed carrying out what it described as a “massive strike” on military targets in Kyiv, as well as the Kharkiv and Dnipro regions, but denied intentionally targeting the monastery. Moscow claimed the cathedral was damaged by a malfunctioning US-made Patriot air defence missile.
The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, founded in the 11th century, is revered by both Ukrainian and Russian Orthodox believers. Its Dormition Cathedral, which suffered damage in the latest attack, was previously destroyed during World War II and rebuilt in the 1990s.
European leaders swiftly condemned the strikes. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said G7 leaders would discuss additional measures to increase pressure on Russia and bring President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table.
French President Emmanuel Macron also denounced the attack, describing the damage to the historic religious site as unjustifiable.
In Kyiv, museum worker Natalia Korol expressed outrage over the strike on the monastery, calling it a sacred site that should never be targeted.
Additional damage was reported at the Mystetsky Arsenal National Art and Museum Complex, where a fire broke out following the attacks.
Across Ukraine, the overnight barrage claimed at least 11 lives, including rescue workers and a civil servant in the northeastern city of Kharkiv.
Meanwhile, Russian authorities reported that a Ukrainian drone strike killed three people and injured three others in the city of Tula, about 200 kilometres south of Moscow.
The latest escalation came shortly after the United States and Iran announced a peace agreement and following separate discussions between Zelensky, Putin and US President Donald Trump regarding the conflict.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022, has evolved into Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II, resulting in thousands of civilian deaths and heavy military casualties on both sides. In recent weeks, Ukraine has intensified long-range drone attacks on Russian territory, particularly targeting energy infrastructure that Kyiv says helps finance Moscow’s war effort.
