Russian attack hits historic monastery in Kyiv and leaves people dead; Ukraine bombs bridges in Crimea

Russian attack destroys roof of UNESCO-listed monastery in Kiev
A large-scale Russian attack against Ukraine in the early hours of Monday (15) caused a serious fire and destroyed part of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, one of the oldest and most important Christian monasteries in the country, located in the capital, Kyiv. The Russian offensive also left five rescuers dead in Kharkiv and at least 20 injured in the capital.
In response, a Ukrainian drone attack hit two bridges connecting the Moscow-controlled Kherson region to the Crimean peninsula, annexed by Russia. Traffic in the region was completely suspended.
The roof of the Dormition Cathedral, which is part of the Kyiv-Pechersk monastic complex, caught fire during the bombing. The site, also known as the Monastery of the Caves, was built between the 11th and 19th centuries and is classified as a World Heritage Site by Unesco.
Rescuers try to put out a fire in the Dormition Cathedral of the ancient Monastery of the Caves, also known as the Lavra of Kyiv-Pechersk.
Evgeniy Maloletka / AP
"It is yet another crime against humanity, against history and against Christianity", condemned the metropolitan Epiphanius, head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister reacted harshly to the bombing of the religious temple. "We will urgently initiate all relevant procedures within UNESCO for immediate and appropriate responses to this state barbarism," declared the chancellor.
Deliberate attacks on civilians
A wave of Shahed ballistic missiles and drones hit residential neighborhoods in Kyiv. According to Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, five bombings hit civilian targets in the Shevchenkivskyi district in less than 30 minutes. A 25-story residential building, a market and a grocery store were set on fire. In the Obolonskyi district, a nine-story building took a direct hit.
"This is their [Russia's] deliberate decision," Tkachenko charged, saying the Kremlin intentionally targeted the heart of one of the world's largest Christian shrines.
In Kharkiv, the country's second-largest city, five rescuers were killed by a second Russian shelling as they tried to put out fire generated by an initial attack. Another five emergency services workers were injured, according to Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko.
*With information from the Associated Press and Reuters.
Roof of Dormition Cathedral catches fire after attack.
Danylo Antoniuk / AP

Source: G1