A fire broke out at a historic Orthodox Christian cathedral in Kyiv during a sweeping overnight Russian missile and drone attack, officials in Ukraine said.
The blaze struck the Assumption Cathedral (also known as the Dormition Cathedral) within the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra monastery complex. The Lavra, also called the Monastery of the Caves, ranks among the most significant Orthodox Christian monastic sites in Eastern Europe.
UNESCO lists the wider Lavra complex as part of a World Heritage site. For centuries, it has stood as a major spiritual, historical, and cultural symbol of Kyiv.
Russia launches hundreds of missiles and drones
According to representatives from Ukraine’s Air Force, Russia launched 70 missiles and 611 drones during the overnight attack, with Kyiv among the main targets. Ukrainian Air Defense units are said to have intercepted 50 missiles and 582 drones. Despite the interceptions, the barrage killed at least nine people and caused damage in Ukraine’s capital, including at the renowned Orthodox Christian cathedral, where the fire broke out.
The latest attack prompted renewed calls from Kyiv for stronger air defense support from Western allies.
It is important that the world does not remain silent in response to this latest act of Russian barbarism. This strike on the Lavra is an attack on the Christian community and on the cultural heritage of humanity. There can be no justification for this or for any other similar… https://t.co/OFz6SmppIE
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 15, 2026
Zelensky urges G7 to increase pressure on Moscow
Following the strike, Zelensky called on G7 countries to intensify pressure on Russia and boost support for Ukraine’s Air Defense Forces.
Ukraine has repeatedly urged its partners to contribute additional air defense systems as Russia continues to launch large-scale missile and drone attacks against cities, infrastructure, and civilian sites. The damage to the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra added a cultural and religious dimension to the latest attack, given the site’s significance for Orthodox Christianity and Ukrainian heritage.
France condemns damage to Orthodox Christian cathedral in Ukraine
France also condemned the latest Russian strikes on Ukraine, with Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot comparing the incident at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra to an attack on Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris or the Basilica of Saint-Denis.
Speaking ahead of an EU foreign ministers’ meeting, he described the Lavra as a UNESCO World Heritage monument and called the incident completely unacceptable.
Russians have hit Kyiv's 975 year old Pechersk Lavra complex, one of the world's cradles of Christianity. pic.twitter.com/hO2WBKgfVy
— Jay in Kyiv (@JayinKyiv) June 15, 2026
Moscow denies targeting Orthodox Christian cathedral in Ukraine
Russia’s Defense Ministry denied that its forces targeted the Assumption Cathedral. Moscow claimed the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra complex was hit by a missile from a US-made Patriot air defense system operated by Ukraine. The ministry also alleged that the incident may have been caused by a malfunction linked to expired missiles supplied to Kyiv by Western allies.
Ukraine has accused Russia of carrying out the large-scale overnight attack, while Moscow has sought to deny responsibility for the damage to the historic religious site.
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