Nine Killed as Russian Attack Hits Kyiv Cathedral

At least nine people were killed in a large-scale Russian missile and drone assault on Ukraine that damaged a historic cathedral in Kyiv, according to Ukrainian officials.

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Cathedral Hit During Nationwide Attack

Four people died in attacks on the capital, while five rescue workers were killed while tackling a fire caused by a strike in the north-eastern city of Kharkiv. Authorities said a further 23 people were injured in Kyiv and five were wounded in Kharkiv.

The overnight bombardment left much of the country under air raid alerts on Monday morning.

Historic Religious Site Damaged

Among the sites affected was the 11th-century Dormition Cathedral, part of the UNESCO-listed Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

Images from the scene showed a large hole in one side of the cathedral and fire damage to part of its roof. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the strike as “one of the biggest Russian crimes against Christian culture today”.

The fire at the cathedral was later extinguished.

Russia denied striking the religious landmark, claiming instead that a US-made Patriot air defence missile had hit the site after apparently malfunctioning. Moscow did not provide evidence to support the allegation.

The cathedral has suffered damage before during Russia’s full-scale invasion, which began in 2022. In January, Ukrainian officials reported damage to several buildings within the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra complex. The cathedral had also been largely destroyed during World War Two before being rebuilt.

Widespread Damage Across Kyiv

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said drone and missile attacks set buildings and vehicles ablaze and cut electricity supplies to more than 140,000 residents.

Zelensky said Russia launched 70 missiles and 611 drones during the overnight assault. Russia’s military said its “massive strike” targeted Ukrainian military facilities.

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the damage to the cathedral, writing on X that “nothing justifies this attack on our universal heritage”.

G7 Meeting Looms

The attacks came ahead of a G7 summit in France, where the war in Ukraine is expected to feature prominently on the agenda.

Zelensky said the gathering should deliver a “decisive and meaningful” response, including greater pressure on Russia and additional air defence support for Ukraine, particularly anti-ballistic missile systems.

The Ukrainian leader also said he had spoken with US President Donald Trump about efforts to bring an end to the conflict.

Meanwhile, Russian officials reported that a Ukrainian drone strike on the city of Tula killed three people and injured three others, including a one-year-old child.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 15 June 2026

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