Massive Russian Strike on Kyiv At Least Kills Five, Injures Dozens, Ignites Fire at Historic Pechersk Lavra Monastery

Editor’s note: this is a developing story.

Russian forces launched an overnight attack on Kyiv on June 15, damaging residential buildings, sparking multiple fires, disrupting electricity supplies, and injuring at least one person, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko and head of the Kyiv City Military Administration Tymur Tkachenko.

Tkachenko said one person had been confirmed injured based on preliminary operational information. He also warned that the threat to the capital remained ongoing.

“The ballistic missile threat continues. There is also a possibility of the use of cruise missiles and drones throughout the night,” Tkachenko stated.

UPD: According to Tkachenko, the number of people injured has climbed to 30, including two children aged five and six. Meanwhile, the number of fatalities in the capital has increased to five as a result of the mass attack, Klitschko reported.

Klitschko also reported multiple incidents across the city as air defense systems continued to operate.

The mayor also reported a fire on the grounds of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, noting that flames had engulfed the roof of the Dormition Cathedral.

Following the overnight strike on Kyiv, an urgent evacuation of religious relics and church items was conducted at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, including historic icons, antimensia, and other valuable objects.

In the Obolonskyi district, debris from downed drones ignited several vehicles. Fires were also reported at warehouse facilities in a five-story building, in a multi-apartment residential building, and on the upper floors of an unfinished residential high-rise.

Preliminary information indicated structural damage to another residential building, with destruction reported between the third and fourth floors.

In the Podilskyi district, debris from a drone strike caused a fire in a private house, while another blaze broke out in a three-story residential building.

In the Pecherskyi district, a strike hit a five-story residential building. Klitschko later said preliminary information indicated that a dormitory building had also been struck in the district.

In the Solomianskyi district, a nine-story residential building was hit during the attack.

Additionally, in the Shevchenkivskyi district, five strikes on civilian infrastructure were reported within less than 30 minutes, including a 25-storey residential building. A market and a grocery store were also set on fire, according to Tkachenko.

Meanwhile, according to local reports, the Dovzhenko Film Studio in Kyiv’s Shuliavka district was struck twice.

Following the attack the largest and oldest costume collection in Ukraine, housed at the Oleksandr Dovzhenko National Film Studio, was completely destroyed, studio CEO Andrii Donchyk said during an appearance on the Breakfast with 1+1 programme.

He noted that approximately 100,000 costumes and around three million clothing items were stored at the studio. The strike also caused damage to other buildings and facilities on the studio grounds.

“This is a unique collection, and it has been completely destroyed. Cossack costumes, clothing associated with Bohdan Khmelnytsky, and numerous historical artefacts have been lost. Everything was stored here,” Donchyk said.

Donchyk also said the destruction included costumes used in landmark Ukrainian films such as Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors, along with other historically significant wardrobe pieces and cultural artefacts.

Klitschko said the assault had also affected the capital's power infrastructure.

“In the northern part of the capital, 140,000 subscribers are without electricity. Enemy attacks damaged power transmission lines,” the mayor said.

Overall, monitoring channels reported that Russian forces fired 27 missiles at the Kyiv region within a one-hour period.

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