A large overnight Russian missile and drone barrage has killed at least 11 people across Ukraine, wounded 53 and knocked out power to 140,000 households. The attack ignited a major fire at the Dormition Cathedral within the UNESCO‑listed Kyiv‑Pechersk Lavra monastery – the spiritual heart of Ukrainian Orthodoxy. It also heavily damaged the Oleksandr Dovzhenko National Film Studios, destroying a collection of roughly 100,000 costumes. Metropolitan Epiphanius I condemned the attack as “a crime against humanity”. In Kharkiv, a “double‑tap” strike killed five rescuers who were extinguishing an earlier fire. President Zelenskyy said Russia’s actions show its intention to continue the war, calling for a decisive G7 response and more air defence support. Asked by Al Jazeera for his response, he said solemnly: “We will see. We will see. Anyway, we all always respond.” His comments came after a phone call with US President Donald Trump on Sunday, where they discussed peace and a future meeting at the G7 summit.
It's images like these that most people will remember
about the most recent Russian attack on Ukraine.
It's why the head of Ukraine's Orthodox Church
is calling Russian President Vladimir Putin the Kremlin antichrist.
Now, both sides have historically used churches and attacks on them
to paint one another in a negative light.
And certainly, this most recent attack on Kiev's Pechersk Lavra
won't be doing the Kremlin any favours.
Now, this attack, one of the largest of the war,
over 700 nearly drones and missiles combined,
many of them headed here in the capital, Kiev.
We asked the Ukrainian president what his response would be.
Mr. President, what's your response to Russia? Al Jazeera English.
We will see. We will see.
Anyway, we always respond after any attacks on Ukraine.
Thank you so much.
The president's tone more solemn than usual.
It comes after a phone call that he had with U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday
where the two reportedly discussed many things, peace among them,
and a future meeting that's meant to take place
between the two world leaders at the G7 summit in France.
Audrey McAlpine, Al Jazeera, Kiev.
