Russia’s Missile Attack Ignites Fire at Kyiv’s Historic Pechersk Lavra Monastery

Ukrainian authorities reported that a major Russian missile attack overnight resulted in a fire at the historic Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The attack, described as the heaviest on the capital in two weeks, saw Russia launch 70 missiles and 611 drones across Ukraine. Preliminary data indicates Ukrainian air defenses successfully intercepted 50 missiles and 582 drones. The strike has caused significant damage to civilian infrastructure, leaving parts of Kyiv without electricity and resulting in civilian casualties.

The Pechersk Lavra monastery, established in 1051 and revered as a vital symbol of Ukrainian spiritual and cultural heritage, sustained damage to the roof of its Dormition Cathedral during the attack. Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko condemned the assault on what she termed a “priceless cultural landmark,” sharing a video on X showing flames engulfing the cathedral’s exterior.

Metropolitan Epiphanius, leader of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, denounced the strike as a “crime against humanity, against history, against Christianity.” Kyiv City Military Administration head Tymur Tkachenko accused Russian forces of deliberately targeting the monastery’s core. The attack, part of ongoing hostilities in the nearly four-year war, has also devastated other regions. In Kharkiv, five rescue workers and nine others were killed or injured during firefighting efforts.

The monastery’s extensive underground cave system remains largely intact, but above-ground structures face severe threats. The assault coincides with reports of widespread power outages affecting 140,000 Kyiv residents and injuries in multiple districts. Russian authorities simultaneously claimed to repel Ukrainian drone strikes near Tula, southeast of Moscow, where three civilians were killed.

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

Edited by: Rana Taha

Source link