A large-scale Russian missile and drone attack struck multiple locations across Ukraine on Monday, killing five emergency responders in Kharkiv and injuring at least 13 people in the capital, Kyiv. The assault also caused significant damage to the historic Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra monastery complex, one of Ukraine’s most important religious and cultural landmarks.
According to Ukrainian officials, the five rescuers were killed in Kharkiv when a second strike hit the area while they were responding to a fire caused by an earlier attack. Several other emergency workers were also injured in the incident.
In Kyiv, residents were jolted awake by a series of powerful explosions as ballistic missiles and drones targeted civilian infrastructure. Authorities reported damage to residential buildings, markets, and commercial establishments across several districts of the capital.
A 25-storey apartment building, a market, and a grocery store were among the sites affected in the Shevchenkivskyi district, while a residential building in the Obolonskyi district suffered a direct hit. At least 13 people, including a child, sought medical treatment following the attacks.
One of the most significant incidents occurred at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site also known as the Monastery of the Caves. A fire broke out at the Dormition Cathedral after the overnight strikes, raising concerns about damage to the centuries-old religious complex.
Ukrainian officials condemned the attack, describing it as a strike on both civilian infrastructure and an important cultural and religious heritage site. The monastery, founded in the 11th century, remains one of Eastern Europe’s most revered Christian pilgrimage destinations.
The latest attack comes amid continuing hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, with both sides reporting intensified military activity across several regions.
