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Russian Missile and Drone Barrage Sets Kyiv Monastery Ablaze, Kills Rescuers in Kharkiv

The overnight assault exposed strains in Ukraine's air defences, overwhelming systems, damaging key cultural and civilian sites, and increasing calls for more Western interceptors.

Overview

  • Ukrainian officials said the large-scale attack launched overnight into Monday involved about 70 missiles and 611 drones, with air defences reporting they shot down the majority of incoming threats.
  • Strikes set fire to the KyivPechersk Lavra Dormition Cathedral and caused substantial damage to the monastery complex while emergency crews worked to contain the blaze.
  • A Russian drone strike ignited a major fire at the Kharkiv Art Museum, forced exhibit evacuations, and injured civilians including a one‑month‑old infant.
  • Five State Emergency Service rescuers were killed in Kharkiv when a second strike hit the site where they were fighting an earlier blaze, and Kyiv authorities reported four civilians killed and 23 wounded in the capital.
  • The assault cut power to roughly 140,000 Kyiv households, prompted neighbouring Poland to put forces on alert, and revived international pressure for more interceptors and stronger measures to protect Ukraine's cultural heritage.