Russia hits Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipro as Ukraine reports at least 11 dead

By Yusuf İnan | Wise News Press
KYIV, Ukraine — Russia launched a large overnight missile and drone assault on major Ukrainian cities, killing at least 11 people and setting fire to Kyiv’s historic Dormition Cathedral.

According to Euronews, the strikes hit Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Kherson, Sumy and the Dnipropetrovsk region late Sunday and early Monday. Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia fired 70 missiles and 611 drones, while Ukrainian air defense units intercepted 50 missiles and 582 drones. The attack came as international attention was focused on diplomatic efforts elsewhere, including reports of a US-Iran agreement aimed at easing conflict in the Middle East, while the war in Ukraine remained without a clear path to resolution.

Kyiv hit as residents ran for shelter

The Ukrainian capital was among the main targets of the latest Russian attack. Journalists in Kyiv reported that residents ran through the streets looking for shelter as air defense systems attempted to intercept incoming missiles. Glowing debris fell over parts of the city as explosions were heard through the night.

Local authorities said five people were killed and 25 others were wounded in Kyiv. Fires broke out in several locations, including the grounds of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, also known as the Monastery of the Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most important religious and historical complexes in Ukraine.

The roof of the Dormition Cathedral, located within the Lavra complex, caught fire during the attack. Images from the scene showed flames and smoke rising from the historic building as emergency crews worked to bring the fire under control.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the fire had been extinguished by early morning. He described the damage to the cathedral as one of the most serious attacks on Christian heritage since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Historic cathedral damaged in the strike

The Dormition Cathedral is one of Kyiv’s most recognizable religious landmarks. Its location inside the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra gives it major symbolic importance for Ukraine’s cultural, religious and national identity.

Zelenskyy condemned the attack and called it a grave assault on Christian culture.

“This is one of Russia’s most serious crimes against Christian culture to date,” Zelenskyy said.

Ukraine’s emergency services also reported that a building at the Mystetskyi Arsenal National Art and Culture Museum Complex caught fire during the same wave of attacks. Ukraine’s Culture Ministry had previously reported damage to several buildings inside the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra complex following Russian strikes in January.

Tymur Tkachenko, the head of the local military administration, denounced what he described as a “direct attack” on the area. Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kyiv also condemned the strike, calling it “a crime against humanity, history and Christianity.”

The damage to the cathedral is expected to intensify calls from Kyiv for stronger international protection of Ukraine’s cultural heritage, which has repeatedly been hit during the war.

Moscow denies targeting the cathedral

Russia denied that it had targeted the cathedral. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra complex had been hit by a missile fired from a US-made Patriot air defense system.

According to the Russian ministry, “verified reports” indicated that the complex was struck by a missile launched from an American Patriot anti-aircraft system. Moscow also claimed that one possible reason for the system’s failure could be the delivery of expired missiles by Western countries to Ukraine.

Ukraine rejected Moscow’s version of events, saying the damage occurred during a large Russian missile and drone attack on the capital and other regions.

Russia’s military said it had carried out a “massive strike” on Ukrainian military facilities in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipro. Moscow has repeatedly denied deliberately targeting civilians, while Kyiv says Russian attacks continue to strike residential districts, energy facilities, cultural landmarks and other civilian areas.

Kharkiv rescuers killed during firefighting operation

The northeastern city of Kharkiv was also hit by Russian missiles. Ukrainian Interior Minister Igor Klymenko said five emergency workers were killed while trying to extinguish fires caused by the attack.

Klymenko said the rescuers were members of Ukraine’s State Emergency Service and died during a repeated Russian strike while firefighting operations were under way. At least five other emergency workers were wounded, according to officials.

Such incidents are often described by Ukrainian authorities as “double-tap” attacks, in which an initial strike is followed by a second strike after rescuers, medics or civilians arrive at the scene. Kyiv says these attacks make rescue operations more dangerous and increase casualties among emergency responders.

Kharkiv has been one of the most frequently targeted major Ukrainian cities since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. Its proximity to the Russian border has made it vulnerable to missile, artillery and drone attacks.

Local officials also reported casualties in other regions. One person was killed in the front-line southeastern city of Kherson. Two people were wounded in the Dnipropetrovsk region and three others were injured in the Sumy region.

Ukraine says air defenses intercepted most drones

Ukraine’s Air Force said Russian forces launched 70 missiles and 611 drones in the overnight assault. Air defense units shot down 50 missiles and 582 drones, according to the military.

Despite the high interception rate, missiles, drones and falling debris still caused deaths, fires and damage across multiple regions. In Kyiv, fragments of missiles were seen on city streets after the attack.

The scale of the strike renewed Ukrainian demands for more air defense support from Western allies. Kyiv has repeatedly asked for additional Patriot systems and other advanced defenses, arguing that stronger anti-ballistic capabilities are essential to protect cities and civilians.

Ukrainian officials say Russia has increasingly relied on combined attacks involving missiles, cruise missiles, ballistic weapons and large numbers of drones. These attacks are designed to overwhelm air defense systems and force Ukraine to use expensive interceptor missiles against cheaper drones.

Zelenskyy urges G7 leaders to increase pressure on Moscow

Following the attack, Zelenskyy called on G7 leaders meeting in France to respond with “firm and concrete” measures. He urged them to increase pressure on Moscow and provide more support for Ukraine’s air defense, especially anti-ballistic capabilities.

The Ukrainian president said Russia’s latest attack showed the need for stronger sanctions and faster delivery of defensive systems. Kyiv has argued that delays in military support give Moscow more time to intensify strikes on Ukrainian cities.

The attack took place as diplomatic attention was partly focused on the Middle East, where reports of a US-Iran agreement raised hopes of easing another major conflict. For Ukraine, however, the latest Russian strikes underlined the lack of progress toward ending the war.

Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin both spoke by phone with US President Donald Trump on Sunday to discuss the conflict in Ukraine. Zelenskyy said on X that the talks covered issues that could help bring peace. His adviser, Dmytro Lytvyn, told reporters that Kyiv was pleased with what he called a substantive conversation.

The Kremlin said Putin’s call with Trump focused mainly on peace negotiations between the United States and Iran. Kremlin adviser Yury Ushakov said US presidential envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who are closely involved in Iran-related talks, were expected to return to Russia soon.

War continues as both sides expand drone operations

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has become Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II, killing thousands of civilians and hundreds of thousands of soldiers on both sides.

While Ukrainian cities are hit almost daily by Russian drones and missiles, Kyiv has increased its own long-range drone attacks in recent weeks. Ukraine says most of these strikes target Russia’s oil infrastructure in an effort to weaken revenues that help fund the war.

Russian officials said a Ukrainian drone attack killed three people and wounded three others in Tula, a city about 200 kilometers south of Moscow. Regional Governor Dmitry Milyaev reported the casualties on Monday.

The latest wave of Russian strikes shows that the war remains intense both on the front line and far from it. For Ukraine, the attack on Kyiv’s historic cathedral is likely to deepen anger over damage to cultural and religious landmarks. For Western allies, it adds new pressure to decide whether to expand air defense support and sanctions against Moscow.

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