At least nine people have been killed after Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone attack across Ukraine, causing significant damage in Kyiv and other cities.
According to Ukrainian officials, four people were killed in the capital Kyiv, while five rescue workers lost their lives in Kharkiv while responding to a fire caused by Russian strikes. More than 20 people were also reported injured.
The attacks triggered fires in residential buildings, vehicles and infrastructure, leaving over 140,000 residents in Kyiv temporarily without electricity. Air raid alerts were issued across much of the country during the assault.
One of the most significant incidents was the damage to the historic Dormition Cathedral in Kyiv. The cathedral, part of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra complex and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, caught fire and suffered major structural damage.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack, calling it one of the most serious assaults on Christian cultural heritage in recent years. French President Emmanuel Macron also criticized the strike, saying attacks on world heritage sites could not be justified.
Russia denied targeting the cathedral and claimed that a Ukrainian air defence missile may have caused the damage. Moscow stated that its military operation was aimed at Ukrainian military facilities.
Zelensky said Russia launched 70 missiles and more than 600 drones during the overnight assault. Emergency services later extinguished the fire at the cathedral.
Meanwhile, Ukraine also carried out drone attacks inside Russia. Officials in the Russian city of Tula reported that three people were killed and three others injured, including a one-year-old child.
The latest escalation comes ahead of the G7 leaders’ meeting in France, where the war in Ukraine is expected to be a major topic of discussion. Ukraine is seeking additional military assistance, particularly advanced air defence systems, to counter ongoing Russian attacks.
