A large-scale Russian missile and drone assault struck Kyiv, severely damaging the Dormition Cathedral within the Pechersk Lavra monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site and major Ukrainian religious and cultural landmark. Nine people died nationwide, four of them in Kyiv, as residents sought shelter underground while explosions reverberated through the city. Russia stated the strikes targeted military and industrial sites, yet the monastery hit appeared intentional. Kyiv’s Oleksandr Dovzhenko National Film Studio, home to Ukraine’s largest costume collection, was also struck. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the cathedral attack one of Russia’s gravest offenses against Christian culture and called on G7 leaders in France to intensify pressure on Moscow and bolster Ukraine’s air defenses. Ukraine’s foreign minister said Kyiv would seek urgent UNESCO and international action against the assault. France’s foreign ministry equated the strike to an attack on Notre-Dame, highlighting Russia’s cruelty. As the monastery continued burning at dawn, staff rang bells in protest. Ukraine reported Russia launched 70 missiles and 611 drones overnight, with air defenses intercepting most. Additional deaths occurred in Kharkiv from what seemed a follow-up strike on responders. Poland activated air defenses in response. Ukraine also hit bridges linking Crimea to Russian-held territory and faced drone strikes inside Russia that killed civilians.
