A series of Russian missile strikes on Ukraine has resulted in the deaths of at least 11 individuals, including four in the capital city of Kyiv.
President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that five rescue workers lost their lives while combating a fire caused by an attack in Kharkiv, a city in the northeastern part of the country.
The historic Dormition Cathedral, dating back to the 11th century, sustained significant damage in what Zelensky described as “one of the largest Russian offenses against Christian heritage.”
Russia has denied responsibility for the strike on the landmark.
In retaliation, a Ukrainian drone assault in Tula, Russia, left three people dead and injured three others, including a one-year-old child, according to local authorities.
The drone and missile attacks ignited fires in buildings and vehicles, resulting in over 140,000 residents in Kyiv losing access to electricity, as reported by Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
Most regions of Ukraine were placed under air raid alerts early Monday morning.
The strikes in Kyiv targeted multiple residential structures, injuring at least 23 individuals.
Overall, President Zelensky indicated that 53 people had been hurt across the nation.
The Dormition Cathedral is part of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprising a collection of monastic buildings.
Images from the scene showed a large hole on one side of the church, with flames visible from the damaged roof.
Zelensky stated that Russian forces launched 70 missiles and 611 drones during the overnight offensive, but confirmed that the fire had been extinguished.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed solidarity with Zelensky, condemning the attack on cultural heritage.
”Nothing justifies this assault on our universal legacy,” he remarked on social media platform X.
These strikes come just ahead of a G7 summit in France, where discussions regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine are expected to take center stage.
President Zelensky emphasized the need for a “decisive and impactful” response from world leaders, calling for increased pressure on Russia and enhanced air defense assistance for Ukraine, particularly anti-ballistic missiles.
Earlier, Zelensky mentioned that he had communicated with U.S. President Donald Trump regarding efforts to resolve the protracted conflict.
Russia claimed that a U.S.-made Patriot missile struck the cathedral, suggesting it may have misfired, though no evidence was provided to substantiate this assertion.
The Russian military maintained that its “massive strike” was aimed at Ukrainian military installations.
This incident is not the first time the cathedral has been targeted since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022.
In January, attacks had already caused damage to several structures within the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra complex, according to Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture.
The site has a history of destruction; during World War II, it was nearly completely obliterated, with only its southeastern tower remaining intact, according to UNESCO’s website.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong