Russia launched one of its most intense air assaults on Ukraine in weeks, causing heavy damage in the capital Kyiv and the northeastern region. The Dormition Church, part of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra monastery complex, a UNESCO World Heritage site dating back to the 11th century, caught fire after being hit. Ukrainian officials said it was a direct strike.
According to Ukraine's Air Force, Russia fired 70 missiles and 611 drones overnight, primarily targeting the capital. Ukrainian air defenses shot down 50 missiles and 582 drones. Officials said at least four people were killed and about 30 wounded in Kyiv, including children. Missile and drone debris struck residential buildings, markets, and power lines, leaving around 140,000 residents without electricity.
The fire destroyed the dome of the Dormition Church, a landmark overlooking the Dnipro River. The capital's government called the attack a “crime against humanity, history, and Christianity.”
In Kharkiv, Ukrainian officials accused Russia of using a ”double-tap“ tactic, firing additional missiles at a site that had just been struck, killing four rescuers and a city official. Other attacks were reported in Dnipro and Sumy region.
On the Russian side, the Defense Ministry said its forces used long-range precision weapons and drones to hit Ukraine's military-industrial facilities, recruitment offices, and air bases, asserting that all targets were achieved.
Ukraine has also stepped up long-range attacks. Its officials said a drone strike killed three people in the Russian city of Tula. Additionally, bridges linking to the Russian-occupied Crimea peninsula were targeted to cut supply routes.
The latest escalation comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin held separate phone calls with U.S. President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, Washington and Tehran claimed to have reached a framework to end their conflict, highlighting that efforts to end the war in Ukraine remain deadlocked more than four years after Russia launched its special military operation.
