Fire engulfs centuries-old Ukrainian monastery after deadly strikes

Article excerpt

A massive Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv ignited a fire at the Kyiv Perchersk Lavra monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site founded in 1051, destroying centuries of Christian cultural landmarks. President Zelenskyy called the strike "one of Russia's most serious crimes against Christian culture," while Moscow denied involvement in the assault. The attack marks an escalation in Russia's targeting of Ukraine's religious and cultural infrastructure, with the ancient monastery serving as a symbol of the broader devastation inflicted during the war.