Deadly Russian attacks fuel blaze at centuries-old monastery in Kyiv

War in UkraineDeadly Russian attacks fuel blaze at centuries-old monastery in KyivThe attacks killed at least nine people and sparked an intense fire at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, one of Ukraine’s most important religious and cultural landmarks. Moscow denied responsibility.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Add NBC News to GoogleFire engulfs centuries-old Ukrainian monastery after deadly strikes00:49Get more newsLiveonShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJune 15, 2026, 5:57 AM EDTBy Elmira AliievaDeadly Russian strikes across Ukraine overnight sparked an intense blaze at a 1,000-year-old monastery in Kyiv, one of the country’s most important religious and cultural landmarks.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.The attacks killed at least nine people — four in the capital, and five rescue workers in the northeastern city of Kharkiv who were responding to an earlier Russian strike, officials said early Monday.But the sight of fire and smoke engulfing the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, a UNESCO World Heritage site founded in 1051, drew significant and widespread condemnation.President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called it “one of Russia’s most serious crimes against Christian culture to date.” He later visited the site.The Kyiv Pechersk Lavra burns following a Russian strike overnight.Evgeniy Maloletka / AP PhotoRussia’s defense ministry denied responsibility, saying that the damage was caused by “a missile from a U.S.-made Patriot” missile system, which Ukraine uses for air defense. NBC News has reached out to Zelenskyy’s office for comment on the claim, while Yuriy Ihnat, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s Air Force, said that a Russian drone had hit the monastery.The monastic complex in the heart of Kyiv is one of Ukraine’s most treasured cultural and spiritual landmarks, a centuries-old pilgrimage site that draws visitors from across the country and beyond. It’s known for its network of churches, bell towers and undergro...