Efforts to deal with the aftermath of the Russian strikes are ongoing in Kyiv, as well as in Kharkiv. Last night, the Russians launched more than 60 missiles at the capital alone. In total, 70 missiles and 611 drones were used against Ukraine. As of now, 28 people have been reported injured and four killed in the capital. My condolences to all their families and loved ones. A Russian strike on the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra set the Dormition Cathedral on fire – a church whose history dates back to the 11th century. And this is one of Russia’s most serious crimes against Christian culture to date. The State Emergency Service has already extinguished the fire on the cathedral’s roof. In Kharkiv, the Russians carried out a repeat strike against our rescuers as they were putting out a fire at the site of an earlier strike on an industrial facility. So far, tragically, five people have been confirmed killed. My condolences to all their families and loved ones. Nine people have been injured. In Dnipro, Russia struck the grounds of a railway station, a college, and several enterprises. Other cities and communities were targeted as well. The Kyiv, Dnipro, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, and Mykolaiv regions were also under attack. This is how Russia shows the world its intention to continue the war. It is very important that there be a response from the G7 countries, which are now gathering for their summit – and that this response be decisive and substantive: more pressure on the aggressor and more support for Ukraine’s air defense, especially anti-ballistic capabilities. I thank everyone who is helping us protect lives.

Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kyiv shares video of the Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra in flames. “We ask for prayers for the salvation of the shrine from destruction,” he writes. He calls the Russian attack: “Another Russian crime against humanity, against history, against Christianity.”

The Dovzhenko film studio in Kyiv is one of the oldest centers of world cinema. Established in 1927, it’s where Dziga Vertov, Sergey Paradzhanov and obviously Oleksandr Dovzhenko shot some of their masterpieces. It survived WWII because its collection was evacuated to Central Asia before the Nazi takeover. This morning, it was hit by Russian missiles. The entire collection of 100,000 costumes going back nearly a century burned down. Other priceless artifacts gone, too. Barbarians sacking Europe’s cultural heritage.