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

Russia conducted missile and drone attacks 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' following the strikes. Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv's military administration, reported substantial damage to the cathedral complex. The Ukrainian military stated that Russia launched 70 missiles and 611 drones during the attacks. Russia, however, claimed that the damage to the Pechersk Lavra monastery was caused by a malfunction of a US-made Patriot air defense missile. In addition to Kyiv, the attacks resulted in casualties in Kharkiv, where five people were killed and at least 20 were injured. Former U.S. special envoy Keith Kellogg compared the attacks to the 1940 bombing of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London by Nazi Germany. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump spoke with Putin, emphasizing the need for a cessation of hostilities in Ukraine.