KYIV — Russian missile and drone strikes overnight killed at least nine people and damaged the historic Dormition Cathedral in Kyiv's Pechersk Lavra monastery complex, Ukrainian officials said on Monday.
The attacks targeted several Ukrainian cities, with a significant barrage hitting the capital. The roof of the centuries-old Dormition Cathedral, part of a UNESCO World Heritage site founded in 1051, caught fire after being struck, according to local authorities and religious leaders.
Ukrainian emergency services reported casualties across multiple locations. In Kharkiv, at least five rescuers were killed in what officials described as a follow-up strike on responders, while additional deaths were noted elsewhere. More than 20 people were wounded in Kyiv alone, officials said.
"This is their deliberate decision," Ukrainian Culture Minister Mykola Tkachenko said, accusing Russia of targeting the heart of one of Ukraine's largest Christian shrines.
The Pechersk Lavra, also known as the Kyiv Monastery of the Caves, is one of Ukraine's most significant religious and cultural landmarks. Metropolitan Epiphanius, head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, confirmed the fire on the cathedral's roof and called for prayers.
Russian officials have not commented specifically on the strikes reported Monday. In past incidents, Moscow has described such actions as targeting military objectives and has sometimes attributed damage to Ukrainian air defenses.
The attacks come amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, with both sides reporting intensified aerial operations in recent weeks. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted a substantial portion of incoming threats, authorities said, though exact figures for Monday's barrage remained under assessment.
Power outages affected tens of thousands in Kyiv following the strikes, and fires broke out in residential areas. Rescue operations continued into the day as crews worked to extinguish blazes and clear debris.
The incident marks another episode of reported damage to cultural and religious sites during the conflict. Full extent of the damage to the Dormition Cathedral and other structures was still being evaluated, officials said.
Fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces continues along the front lines, with no immediate changes reported in the broader military situation. Ukrainian authorities urged residents to follow air raid alerts as assessments of the overnight attacks proceeded.
