A fire broke out at Ukraine’s famed Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery complex following a large-scale Russian attack on Kyiv overnight into Monday, Ukrainian authorities say.
Images circulating on social media showed flames and smoke rising from parts of the UNESCO World Heritage site, one of Ukraine’s most important religious and cultural landmarks. Emergency services were dispatched to the scene as officials assessed the extent of the damage.
The attack also left more than a dozen people injured across the Ukrainian capital. Local authorities reported that Russian missiles and drones targeted multiple districts of Kyiv, causing damage to residential buildings and civilian infrastructure.
Founded in the 11th century, the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, also known as the Monastery of the Caves, is among the oldest Orthodox Christian monasteries in Eastern Europe. The monastery complex, which traces its history back nearly 1,000 years, is considered a symbol of Ukrainian religious and cultural heritage and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The latest strike comes amid intensified Russian aerial attacks on Ukrainian cities, as Moscow continues its campaign of long-range missile and drone strikes against targets across the country.
Ukrainian officials have condemned the attack and warned that damage to historic and religious sites represents a threat not only to Ukraine’s cultural heritage but also to globally significant monuments protected under international conventions.
The full extent of the damage to the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra remains unclear, and authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fire.
Header image: Smoke and fire rises from the Dormition Cathedral in the Orthodox in Kyiv (Genya SAVILOV)
