Russian airstrikes on Ukraine: At least nine dead, famous cave monastery burns
Russian air strikes on Ukraine killed at least nine people and set fire to Kiev's historic Pechersk Lavra monastery cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site dating to the 11th century.
The Dormition Cathedral, part of the centuries-old cave monastery that sits atop the hills overlooking the Dnipro River, was engulfed in flames as fires broke out beneath its gilded domes, according to Nius. The monastery complex has held UNESCO World Heritage status since 1990 and traces its origins to the 11th century.
Tymur Tkachenko, military governor of the capital city of three million residents, confirmed the incident via Telegram. He stated there was serious damage to the monastery grounds, though it remained unclear whether the fire resulted from direct Russian strikes or falling debris from Ukrainian air defense operations.
Russian forces deployed more than 50 missiles and approximately 500 drones in the coordinated assault, according to media reports cited by Nius. The scale of the attack resulted in dozens of injuries across multiple Ukrainian regions.
The Dormition Cathedral itself was destroyed during World War II in 1941 and only fully reconstructed in the late 1990s. The lower section of the monastery grounds contains a medieval network of caves housing mummified remains of clergy. This portion remains under the administration of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which severed ties with the Moscow Patriarchate following the Russian invasion in 2022.
Capital Hit Hard With Multiple Strikes
Kiev endured nearly two dozen explosions during the night, likely triggered by air defense systems engaging incoming threats. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported strikes across three districts, leaving at least 23 people injured. The attacks also caused widespread power outages and fires, with approximately 30 vehicles destroyed in the flames.
Military governor Tkachenko reported more than 40 impacts within the capital itself, with the death toll reaching four by early morning hours.
Regional Casualties Mount
The northeastern city of Kharkiv suffered particularly heavy losses, with five rescue workers killed and four additional civilians wounded, The Kyiv Independent reported, citing Governor Oleh Syniehubov. At least one person was injured in Dnipro. These figures could not be independently verified at the time of reporting.
Ukraine Strikes Back at Russian Territory
Ukraine has now endured more than four years of Russian invasion and faces near-daily air attacks. Both sides increasingly rely on drone warfare due to its relative simplicity and cost-effectiveness for military operations.
Russian authorities reported their own casualties from Ukrainian drone strikes. Dmitri Milyaev, governor of Russia’s Tula region, announced that three people were killed and three more injured in overnight Ukrainian drone attacks. Moscow city administration confirmed shooting down multiple incoming drones but released no immediate information regarding casualties or damage.
With information from Nius
