Ukraine came under a new wave of Russian attacks on Monday that left at least nine people dead across the country and caused serious damage to one of its most important religious landmarks. Officials said the strikes targeted several regions, including the capital Kyiv, where a historic monastery caught fire during one of the heaviest assaults seen in recent weeks.
The attack came only a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke with US President Donald Trump about efforts to end the war that has continued for more than four years. Their conversation took place ahead of a G7 meeting where the conflict is expected to remain a key topic.
In Kyiv, Russian drones and missiles struck multiple locations overnight. Authorities said four people were killed and at least 23 others were injured. Several residential buildings suffered damage, while power lines were hit, leaving around 140,000 residents without electricity.
One of the most significant incidents involved the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site that dates back to 1051. The monastery is regarded as one of Ukraine’s most important religious and cultural symbols. Ukrainian officials said the site was badly damaged after being directly hit during the attack. Images from the scene showed flames rising above parts of the historic complex as emergency crews worked to control the fire.
Ukrainian leaders strongly condemned the strike. Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko described it as an attack not only on civilians but also on the country’s cultural heritage. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Ukraine would seek an urgent international response through UNESCO and other global institutions.
The attacks were not limited to Kyiv. In Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, five emergency service workers were killed after a second strike hit the same area where rescue teams had been responding. At least five other rescuers were injured. In the northeastern Sumy region, local authorities reported that three people, including a child, were wounded during separate attacks.
As air raid sirens sounded across much of Ukraine, neighboring Poland temporarily scrambled fighter jets as a precaution. The Polish military later confirmed that no violation of its airspace had been detected.
At the same time, Ukraine continued its own operations inside Russian territory. Russian officials said a Ukrainian drone attack on the city of Tula, south of Moscow, killed three people and injured three others, including a one-year-old child. The city is known as an important industrial center.
Ukraine also targeted infrastructure linked to Crimea, the peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014. According to reports, two bridges connecting Crimea with Russian-controlled areas were struck overnight, potentially affecting supplies to the region, which is already facing fuel shortages.
Despite renewed discussions about possible peace efforts, there has been little progress toward ending the conflict. Zelensky recently proposed direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin involving the United States and European partners. While several European countries supported the idea, the Kremlin rejected the proposal.
With both sides continuing to exchange strikes and casualties rising, hopes for a breakthrough remain uncertain as the war enters another difficult phase.
