Russia Launches Missile and Drone Attacks on Kyiv, Causing Damage to Historic Sites

Russia conducted missile and drone strikes on Kyiv overnight, resulting in damage to the Dormition Cathedral, a UNESCO-protected site. The head of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine referred to Russian President Vladimir Putin as the 'Kremlin Antichrist' in response to the attacks. The Ukrainian military reported that Russia launched 70 missiles and 611 drones during the assault. The Russian defense ministry claimed that the damage to the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra monastery was caused by a malfunction of a US-made Patriot air defense missile, rather than a direct strike. In Kharkiv, five people were killed and at least 20 were injured due to the attacks. Following the strikes, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the affected sites, accompanied by government officials. Additionally, former U.S. special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg drew parallels between the attacks and the 1940 bombing of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London by Nazi Germany.