Russian Air Strike Hits Kyiv, Igniting 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 Klitschko, ten people have been injured in Kyiv following a large-scale enemy attack, according to current reports. Eight were taken to city hospitals, while two received medical treatment at the scene.

He 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.

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.

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.

Kharkiv

At the same time, Russian forces also attacked Kharkiv with drones overnight, according to Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov.

Terekhov reported another Russian drone strike in the city's Kholodnohirskyi district, where the impact sparked a fire at a civilian enterprise.

“As a result of the strike, a fire broke out at a civilian enterprise. State Emergency Service units are working at the scene. According to preliminary information, residential buildings nearby were not damaged,” Terekhov wrote on Telegram.

The mayor later said there was information about casualties resulting from the attacks on the Kholodnohirskyi district, though he did not specify the number of people injured.

Authorities also recorded a Shahed drone strike in Kharkiv's Shevchenkivskyi district near residential buildings.

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