Russian missile and drone barrage ignites fire at Kyiv's historic Pechersk Lavra

On the night of 14‑15 June, Russian forces launched a massive attack on Ukraine, firing more than 50 missiles—including hypersonic Zircon weapons—and nearly 500 Shahed‑type drones toward the capital, Kyiv. Ukrainian air defenses engaged the incoming threats, but the barrage caused extensive damage across the city.

The strikes set off numerous fires, including a large blaze at the 1,000‑year‑old Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Dormition Cathedral’s roof was hit and ignited, prompting emergency crews to battle flames amid the ruins. At least four civilians were killed and 23 injured in Kyiv, while 30 vehicle fires were reported and electrical lines were damaged, leaving roughly 140,000 residents without power. In Kharkiv, five rescue workers died and several more were wounded while combating secondary fires.

Ukraine’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, confirmed the widespread power outage and damage to residential buildings. Polish air‑defence units were placed on high alert as the conflict escalated. President Volodymyr Zelensky disclosed a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump about ending the war, while Kremlin statements said Trump also spoke with President Vladimir Putin, who has rejected a cease‑fire proposal.