Russian Missile Attack Kills 11 and Lights Historic Kyiv Cathedral

A nighttime strike from Russian forces left at least 11 civilians dead—four in Kyiv and five rescue workers in Kharkiv—and set the 11th‑century Dormition Cathedral on fire. President Volodymyr Zelensky described the raid as "one of the biggest Russian crimes against Christian culture today."

Zelensky said Russian forces used 70 missiles and 611 drones that night, targeting residential buildings and military sites. The cathedral, part of the Kyiv‑Pechersk Lavra UNESCO World Heritage Site, suffered a gaping hole and flames that licked its roof.

International leaders condemned the strike. French President Emmanuel Macron called it "nothing justifies this attack on our universal heritage." EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas labelled the bombing a war crime. The United Nations warned that damaging cultural institutions erodes social cohesion and denies communities vital cultural spaces.

Russia denied responsibility, claiming a misfired U.S. Patriot missile might have struck the cathedral. No evidence of this claim was provided, and Russia’s military said the attack targeted Ukrainian military sites.

The attack comes ahead of a G7 summit in France, where the war in Ukraine will be discussed. Zelensky urged the gathering to deliver decisive pressure, including additional anti‑ballistic missiles for Ukraine’s air defence.