Kyiv monastery set on fire in overnight Russian attack
A sustained Russian missile and drone attack has hit Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine overnight, with the Dormition Cathedral at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra reported on fire. The strike wave also damaged residential buildings and other sites across the capital, while air raid alerts and explosions were reported in the early hours of Monday. At least five people were killed across Ukraine, and six people were reported injured in Kyiv.
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Footage from the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, a UNESCO World Heritage site, showed flames rising from the monastery complex. The Orthodox Church of Ukraine said the roof of the Dormition Cathedral, described as one of the holiest places in the Christian world, was burning. Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraine's prime minister, posted an image of the building in flames and described the attack as a strike on people and heritage.
Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv's military administration, said new launches targeting the capital were still being recorded and urged people to remain in shelters. He said damage had been reported at 16 locations across Kyiv amid interceptor launches and explosions that shook windows in the city centre. The reporting also said at least 10 people were injured, although the confirmed figure given for Kyiv in the same account was six.
The attack matters because it combines civilian casualties with damage to a major religious and cultural landmark in the Ukrainian capital. The Kyiv Pechersk Lavra is one of the country's best-known historic and spiritual sites, and any fire there carries significance beyond the immediate physical damage. The strikes also come as Russia has warned of further systemic attacks and as the war continues to place pressure on Ukraine's air defences and emergency services.
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The wider overnight wave also affected other parts of the country. In Kharkiv, at least five people were killed in what was described as a double-tap strike targeting emergency responders. The report said Poland scrambled fighter jets and put ground-based air defence systems and radar reconnaissance on readiness in response to the attacks, underlining the regional security impact of the strike wave.
What remains unclear is the full extent of the damage at the monastery and whether the fire has been contained. It is also not yet clear how many people were injured nationwide, given the differing figures reported for Kyiv. Further official updates are likely to focus on casualty numbers, structural damage, and whether additional launches follow.
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