KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia launched a significant attack on Ukraine's major cities, deploying hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles, which resulted in at least 11 deaths and damage to a notable religious site, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other officials on Monday. The strikes targeted Kyiv and Kharkiv following phone conversations between Zelenskyy, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday, indicating ongoing diplomatic efforts to address the conflict that began with Russia's invasion in February 2022.
The situation in Ukraine is expected to be discussed at a G7 summit in France, where Zelenskyy and Trump will be present. Zelenskyy emphasized the need for a strong response from G7 nations, advocating for increased support for Ukraine's air defense systems.
Zelenskyy reported that the attacks resulted in 11 civilian and emergency worker fatalities, with 53 others injured across Ukraine. In Kyiv, five individuals were killed, including two children aged 5 and 6, as confirmed by Mayor Vitali Klitschko and Tymur Tkachenko, head of the city's Military Administration. The strikes caused significant explosions and fires, damaging residential buildings and civilian infrastructure.
Russia's Defense Ministry stated that the strikes aimed at defense and industrial facilities in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Dnipro, including workshops producing drone components. The bombardment also caused damage to the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, an 11th-century monastic complex, with the roof of the Dormition Cathedral catching fire. Metropolitan Epiphanius, head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, condemned the attack as a crime against humanity and called for prayers to protect the site.
French officials, including President Emmanuel Macron, expressed solidarity with Ukraine, condemning the attack on cultural heritage. Russia's Defense Ministry claimed that the damage to the Lavra was caused by a misfired Ukrainian air defense missile, a statement made without evidence.
Ukraine's air force reported that Russia launched 70 missiles and 611 drones during the attack, primarily targeting Kyiv, while air defenses intercepted or suppressed 632 aerial targets, including 50 missiles and 582 drones. Preliminary data indicated that 20 ballistic missiles and 27 attack drones struck 42 locations across the country, with debris from intercepted drones falling at 12 sites.