Kyiv monastery set ablaze in massive Russian night attack across Ukraine

Ukraine faced a large-scale Russian missile and drone assault in the early hours of Monday, with explosions rocking Kyiv and other regions. Among the targets was the Dormition Cathedral in the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most sacred places in Orthodox Christianity. Flames engulfed the cathedral's roof, and Metropolitan Epiphanius of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine condemned the attack, calling it a strike on a holy site.

Kyiv's military administration head, Tymur Tkachenko, reported damage at 16 locations in the capital and at least ten injuries, urging residents to stay in shelters as new launches continued. Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko posted a photo of the burning monastery, describing it as a brutal assault on Ukrainian people and heritage.

The attacks came after Russian President Vladimir Putin warned of systematic strikes. In Kharkiv, a double-tap strike killed at least five people, including emergency responders. Poland, a NATO member, scrambled fighter jets and activated ground-based air defense systems.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he spoke with US President Donald Trump on Sunday about ending the war, but progress remains slow as US mediators focus on the Middle East. Meanwhile, US and Iranian officials announced a peace framework to end their conflict, expected to be signed in Switzerland on Friday.