KYIV — Russian forces carried out continued missile and drone attacks on targets across Ukraine overnight into Monday, damaging infrastructure, striking urban areas and causing civilian casualties, according to Ukrainian authorities, while Moscow said its operations were directed at military-related facilities.
Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched about 70 missiles and more than 600 drones in one of the largest aerial assaults of the conflict in recent months. Ukrainian officials reported that air defenses intercepted many of the incoming weapons, but several regions were hit, including Kyiv, Kharkiv and Sumy.
In Kyiv, a fire broke out at part of the historic Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery complex, a UNESCO World Heritage site, during the overnight attack. Ukrainian officials said the damage was caused by Russian strikes and condemned the attack on the religious landmark. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described it as “one of Russia’s gravest crimes against Christian culture,” according to statements released by his office.
Russia rejected those accusations on Monday. The Russian Foreign Ministry said allegations that Russian forces struck the monastery were a “crude fake,” while the Defense Ministry said damage to the site was caused by a U.S.-made Patriot air-defense missile. Russian officials said their forces had targeted military-industrial facilities rather than civilian or religious sites.
Ukrainian authorities said at least 10 people were killed nationwide in the latest attacks, including civilians in Kyiv and Kharkiv, while dozens more were injured. The reported casualty figures were provided by Ukrainian officials and could not be independently verified. Emergency crews continued rescue and recovery operations on Monday.
The attacks followed weeks of intensified aerial operations by both sides. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly warned of large-scale Russian missile and drone barrages, while Russia has accused Ukraine of increasing strikes on targets inside Russian territory.
Russian authorities separately reported that a Ukrainian drone attack on the city of Tula killed three people and injured three others, including a child. The casualty figures were reported by regional Governor Dmitry Milyayev. Ukraine did not immediately comment on the claim.
Diplomatic efforts to reduce hostilities have continued alongside the fighting. Ukrainian officials have sought additional air-defense support from Western partners, while discussions involving international leaders were expected to continue during meetings on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit.
As of Monday, air raid alerts remained in effect in parts of Ukraine, and officials said assessments of damage from the latest attacks were continuing. Details on the full extent of losses remained unclear.
