Russian attack sets fire to centuries-old religious site in Kyiv and kills 5 in Kharkiv

A large-scale Russian attack on Ukraine set fire to the Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra in Kyiv and killed 5 rescuers in Kharkiv. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.

The attack on Monday, June 15, 2026, wounded at least 20 people in the capital Kyiv. Strikes also hit apartment buildings.

The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra is a thousand-year-old religious complex; the roof of its Dormition Cathedral caught fire. Rescue workers began extinguishing the blaze.

In Kharkiv, five rescuers were killed. Russian drones were used in the attack, with one explosion captured in front of the Mother Motherland monument from World War II.