Key facts
- Russia launched missile strikes across Ukraine, resulting in at least nine deaths.
- The historic Dormition Cathedral in Kyiv sustained damage and caught fire.
- Five rescue workers were killed in Kharkiv while responding to a Russian strike.
- A Ukrainian drone strike in Tula, Russia, killed three people.
- President Trump engaged in discussions with both Ukrainian and Russian leaders regarding the war.
Russia launched a significant missile barrage targeting multiple Ukrainian cities overnight into Monday, resulting in at least nine fatalities and causing damage to critical infrastructure, including the historic Dormition Cathedral in Kyiv. The attacks occurred against a backdrop of developing news regarding a US-Iran deal aimed at de-escalating the Middle East conflict, highlighting the ongoing and unresolved nature of the war in Ukraine.
In Kharkiv, five rescue workers were killed and at least five others wounded while attempting to extinguish fires following a Russian strike, according to Interior Minister Igor Klymenko. The capital city, Kyiv, also suffered casualties, with four people killed and 23 injured. The grounds of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, a UNESCO World Heritage site, were affected, and the roof of the Dormition Cathedral caught fire. Journalists in Kyiv reported witnessing residents seeking shelter as intercepted projectiles led to debris falling across the city.
Firefighting efforts at the Dormition Cathedral involved more than a dozen fire trucks, with firefighters working from both inside and aerial platforms. A significant hole was visible on one side of the church, and flames were seen emanating from the partially destroyed roof. The Ministry of Culture had previously reported damage to several buildings within the complex in January. Tymur Tkachenko, head of the local military administration, condemned the strike as direct, while Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kyiv denounced it as a "crime against humanity, history and Christianity."
Beyond Kyiv and Kharkiv, the city of Dnipro also faced missile attacks, with one person wounded, according to regional administration head Oleksandr Hanzha. In the Sumy region, three people, including a child, were wounded, as reported by Oleg Grygorov, the head of the region. Separately, a Ukrainian drone strike in the Russian city of Tula killed three people and wounded three others, according to regional governor Dmitry Milyaev.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian leader Vladimir Putin reportedly spoke with US President Donald Trump on Sunday to discuss the war. Zelenskyy stated on X that he discussed matters that could advance peace, while the Kremlin indicated the conversation focused on peace negotiations with the United States and Iran. Kremlin adviser Yury Ushakov mentioned that US representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would soon return to Russia, indicating ongoing diplomatic engagement.