KYIV
\nAn overnight Russian barrage of missiles killed at least 11 people across Ukraine and sparked a fire at one of the most important Orthodox monasteries in the capital, Kyiv said Monday.
\nAFP journalists across Kyiv witnessed residents running through the streets seeking shelter throughout the night as projectiles were intercepted in the sky and glowing debris fell across the city.
\nIn response to the assault, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for more pressure on Moscow from G7 leaders, who were gathering at a summit in France set to be dominated by the US-Iranian deal to end the Middle East war.
\nThe violence killed five people and wounded 34 in the capital as a fire broke out on the grounds of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra UNESCO world heritage site, setting ablaze the roof of its Dormition Cathedral.
\n\u201cThis is one of Russia\u2019s most serious crimes against Christian culture to date,\u201d Zelensky said on social media.
\nFounded in the 11th century, the site holds huge significance for Orthodox believers in both Ukraine and Russia.
\nRussia\u2019s military said it had carried out a \u201cmassive strike\u201d on military sites in Kyiv, as well as the Kharkiv and Dnipro regions, but denied targeting the Lavra, saying it was hit by an outdated US Patriot air defense missile.
\nAfter he visited the site, Zelensky said two Russian drones \u201cdeliberately\u201d targeted Kyiv\u2019s monastery quarter.
\nMoscow fired 70 missiles and 611 drones, mainly targeting the capital, Ukraine\u2019s air force said, adding that it had downed 50 of the missiles and 582 drones.
\nIn the morning Kyiv sun, an AFP reporter saw rescuers carefully cleaning up rubble at the monastery, as the church bells rang out the tune of the Ukrainian anthem.
\nThe Ukrainian security service said it was putting the debris from one of the drones on display.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
KYIV An overnight Russian barrage of missiles killed at least 11 people across Ukraine and sparked a fire at one of the most important Orthodox monasteries in the capital, Kyiv said Monday. AFP journalists across Kyiv witnessed residents running through the streets seeking shelter throughout the night as projectiles were intercepted in the sky and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-551469","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-world"],"yoast_head":"\n