Major Russian missile and drone strikes hit Kyiv and other cities

On June 15, 2026, Russian forces launched a large-scale aerial attack against Ukraine, utilizing dozens of missiles and hundreds of drones. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated the strikes targeted military industrial facilities, airfields, and logistics hubs in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Dnipro. Ukrainian authorities reported that at least nine people were killed nationwide, including five rescuers in Kharkiv. A significant strike damaged the UNESCO-listed Dormition Cathedral in the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, sparking a fire. Local officials confirmed damage to multiple residential buildings and power lines, leaving approximately 140,000 residents without electricity. Ukrainian officials condemned the attack on the historic monastery as a crime against history and Christianity. Western leaders, including French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and President Emmanuel Macron, denounced the strikes on cultural heritage sites.