NewzVille Desk
Ukrainian officials accused Russia of carrying out what they described as “deliberate and brutal” attacks against the nation’s cultural and historical heritage.
At least 11 people were killed in overnight Russian strikes across Ukraine, which also triggered a major fire at the historic Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery, one of the country’s most significant religious and cultural landmarks and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Following the attack, UNESCO’s Liaison Officer to Ukraine, Chiara Dezzi Bardeschi, and UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, visited the site and described the damage as “extensive”.
The fresh strikes came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had spoken to US President Donald Trump and discussed efforts to achieve an end to the more-than-four-year conflict.
He also called for more pressure on Moscow from G7 leaders, who are gathering at a summit in France.
Meanwhile, Russia on Monday denied responsibility for damage to Kyiv’s historic Pechersk Lavra monastery, claiming the UNESCO World Heritage site was hit by a malfunctioning US-made Patriot air defence missile rather than a Russian strike.
In a statement, Russia’s Defence Ministry said its forces did not target civilian infrastructure and insisted the monastery had been struck by a Ukrainian air defence missile.
