A night attack on Kiev, the symbol of Ukraine in flames

Several multi-story residential buildings were also hit in the Russian attack. According to the data so far, at least four people died in the capital, while 23 were injured, among them a child and a pregnant woman.

The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, a large monastery and cave complex that houses some of the most important Ukrainian Orthodox shrines and relics, came under direct fire. This is the second time since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion that the complex has been hit, and only the third time since World War II.

“The roof of one of the holiest places in the Christian world, the Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, is on fire. We pray for the salvation of this sanctuary from destruction. This is another Russian crime against humanity, history and Christianity,” X Epiphanius, the head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, wrote on the social network during the night.

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

More than 50 missiles and almost 500 drones were launched

The cathedral was originally built in the 11th century as part of a monastery complex. The extent of the damage is not yet fully known.

The Ukrainian Air Force previously reported that dozens of Russian drones were approaching Kiev, while anti-aircraft forces were actively operating. A ballistic missile threat was declared for most of the country, and air alerts were active in the central and eastern regions.

According to initial information, Russia launched more than 50 missiles in the attack, including several hypersonic Zircon missiles, and almost 500 drones.

Kyiv Independent journalists heard the first explosions in Kyiv around one hour past midnight local time. New waves of detonations followed around 1:30 a.m. and again around 3:40 a.m. Particularly strong explosions were recorded near the city district of Pechersk, the cultural center of Kyiv, which owes its name to the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.

Five members of the emergency services died in Kharkiv

Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko reported that a residential building between the third and fourth floors was partially destroyed in the city’s Obolon district. The attacks also hit a nine-story building and a five-story building in the Solomjanski and Pecherski districts.

The head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, Timur Tkachenko, said that a fire also broke out in a three-story residential building in the Podil district. A 25-story residential building in the Shevchenkivski quarter was also hit.

“Russians are barbarians of the 21st century. We will all remember this,” said Tkachenko.

A total of 30 car fires broke out across Kyiv. The attack also damaged the power infrastructure, which caused major power outages. Klitschko said that at least 140,000 users were left without electricity. He added that more than 50 locations in the city were affected.

The Russian attack was not limited to the capital. In Kharkiv, five members of the emergency services were killed during the night, and at least four people were injured, regional governor Oleh Sinjehubov announced.

So far, at least one injured person has been confirmed in Dnipro. The full extent of the damage and the number of casualties are not yet known as Russian attacks on Ukraine are still ongoing. Regional governor Oleksandr Hanza said that a college building was destroyed in the attack.

Big attack on Kiev on May 24

In recent days, Ukrainian officials have warned of the possibility of new major Russian strikes. The Ukrainian Air Force said on Friday that there was a high probability that Russia would use the Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missile, but the attack did not take place at the time.

Recent waves of Russian attacks have made May one of the deadliest months for Ukrainian civilians since the invasion began. The target of the attack was not only people, but also Ukrainian culture, heritage and historical memory.

In a major attack on Kyiv on May 24, the National Art Museum of Ukraine, one of the oldest and most important museums in Ukraine, was damaged. Then the buildings of state institutions, the Kyiv Opera House, the Ukrainian House, the Valery Lobanovskyi Stadium and the Chernobyl Museum were damaged.

Just a horror: this is what Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra looks like now. pic.twitter.com/KMUZOOs4ga

— The Ukrainian Review (@UkrReview) June 14, 2026

Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that more than 40 percent of the Chernobyl Museum’s museum collection has been irretrievably lost. Just hours before tonight’s rocket and drone attack, Russian drones hit the Art Museum in Kharkiv, causing a huge fire.

Soviet forces mined the Dormition Cathedral in World War II

At the beginning of the year, on January 24, the Russian attack first damaged the buildings of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. Officials then pointed out that the complex had not been hit by military attacks since World War II, reports Index.

During the Second World War, Soviet forces, retreating before the German advance, mined the Dormition Cathedral. It was destroyed on November 3, 1941, after German forces occupied Kiev.

The Lavra was formerly under the administration of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church. The Ukrainian authorities began to limit its influence after they did not renew the contract for the use of the complex in 2023.

The Independent Orthodox Church of Ukraine held its first Christmas liturgy in the Lavra on January 7, 2023, led by Metropolitan Epiphanius. The Kiev Pechersk Lavra is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and is under constant surveillance due to continuous Russian attacks.

(Vijesti.ba)