Russian Missile Barrage Hits Kyiv Cathedral, Leaving Casualties

A massive Russian air assault shook the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Monday (15/6/2026). At least four people were reported killed after the attack, described as the heaviest in the past two weeks, struck several areas, including the historic church complex of Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Ukrainian authorities said the direct Russian strike caused serious damage to the monastery complex founded in 1051. The head of the Kyiv Military Administration, Tymur Tkachenko, said the Dormition Cathedral within the monastery complex suffered a severe fire after being hit by a missile. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy strongly condemned the attack. In a post on social media platform X, he called the burning of the Dormition Cathedral one of the most serious assaults on cultural and Christian religious heritage since the war began. The latest attack occurred a day after Zelenskiy revealed he had spoken with United States President Donald Trump about efforts to end the conflict, which has lasted more than four years. The discussion took place ahead of a meeting of G7 nations in France this week. Besides hitting the historic site, the wave of Russian attacks also targeted several high-rise apartment buildings and energy infrastructure in Kyiv. Local authorities reported that around 140,000 residents experienced power outages after energy distribution networks were damaged. However, most of the electricity supply was successfully restored a few hours later. The Ukrainian military stated that Russia launched 70 missiles and 611 drones at various regions of Ukraine overnight. Of that number, Ukrainian air defence systems managed to shoot down 50 missiles and 582 drones. The escalating tensions come amid diplomatic efforts to halt the war. Zelenskiy had previously proposed a direct meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss a ceasefire involving the United States and European nations. However, the proposal was rejected by the Kremlin.