A Russian missile attack on Kiev overnight sparked a fire at the main church of the UNESCO-protected Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery complex, Ukrainian officials said early on Monday.
Tymur Tkachenko, the military governor of the capital, said the attack caused serious damage on the grounds of the historic monastery, which is owned by the Ukrainian state. Images circulating on social media appeared to show flames on the roof of the Dormition Cathedral, the complex's main church.
Russia launched missile strikes on Kiev during the night. Around two dozen explosions, believed to be caused by air defence systems, were heard in the city centre, according to a dpa correspondent.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko said strikes were recorded in three districts of the capital, injuring at least 13 people and causing power outages and fires.
The centuries-old Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery is home to a network of underground caves containing the mummified remains of Orthodox monks and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990. Several museums are located within the complex.
The so-called lower section continues to be used by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church despite pressure from the state. Until Russia's 2022 invasion, the church regarded itself as part of the Moscow Patriarchate, but it has since severed ties with Moscow.
Ukraine has been fighting Russia's full-scale invasion for more than four years.
