KYIV: A large-scale Russian missile and drone attack on Ukraine has killed rescuers, injured civilians and set fire to a centuries-old religious complex in the capital, Kyiv, according to Ukrainian officials.
Authorities said the overnight assault involved ballistic missiles followed by waves of Shahed drones, causing widespread destruction across multiple districts. Emergency services reported that at least five rescuers were killed in Kharkiv when a second strike hit the site while they were responding to an earlier fire. Several other rescue workers were also injured.
In Kyiv, officials said at least 13 people, including a child, were wounded as explosions rocked residential areas. Multiple apartment buildings, a market and a grocery store were set ablaze during the attacks. City authorities described the strikes as deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure.
One of the most significant impacts of the attack was a fire at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, also known as the Monastery of the Caves, a UNESCO-listed religious and historical landmark dating back to the 11th century. The roof of the Dormition Cathedral within the complex caught fire, prompting urgent efforts to contain the blaze.
The monastery, a major spiritual centre of the Orthodox Christian world, has long been considered one of Ukraine’s most important cultural and religious sites. Officials and church leaders condemned the damage, calling it an attack on heritage, faith and history.
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said Kyiv was the main target of the assault, with significant damage reported in several districts. Rescue operations continued throughout the morning as emergency teams worked to extinguish fires and search for survivors in damaged buildings.
The Ukrainian government accused Russia of deliberately striking civilian areas and cultural landmarks, escalating concerns over the continued targeting of non-military sites during the ongoing conflict.
The attack marks one of the most severe recent escalations in the war, intensifying fears of further destruction to both civilian life and Ukraine’s cultural heritage.