STORY: Firefighters tackled flames at Kyiv's Pechersk Lavra monastery on Monday (June 15), after it caught fire in the heaviest Russian air attack on the Ukrainian capital in two weeks. Four people were killed in the attack and authorities urged residents to take shelter.

The central Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site founded in 1051, was seriously damaged in a direct attack, Tymur Tkachenko, the head of the capital's military administration, said in a Telegram post.

"An enemy drone struck near the very centre of the cathedral’s roof," said Ukraine's Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko at the scene. Emergency crews were working to stop the fire spreading, he said, hampered by the large number of wooden structures inside the building.

As towering flames rose over the monastery, residents took shelter underground in the worst Russian attack on Ukraine since early June.

Drones and missiles struck several high-rise apartment buildings and damaged electricity lines, leaving some 140,000 residents without power, according to Kyiv authorities.

Four people were killed and 23 injured, Tkachenko said.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Firefighters tackle blaze at Kyiv monastery after Russian drone strike, says interior minister

VIDEO SHOWS: FIREFIGHTERS BATTLING FIRE INSIDE KYIV PECHERSK LAVRA COMPLEX, CATHEDRAL ON FIRE, COMMENTS BY UKRAINE'S INTERIOR MINISTER

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: KYIV, UKRAINE (JUNE 15, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all) (NIGHT SHOTS)

1. VARIOUS OF USPENSKYI CATHEDRAL AT KYIV'S PECHERSK LAVRA ON FIRE, FIREFIGHTERS ON CHERRY PICKER BATTLING FLAMES

2. USPENSKYI CATHEDRAL, SOUND OF EXPLOSION, NIGHT SKYLINE

3. FIRE ENGINE

4. FIREFIGHTER ON CHERRY PICKER DOUSING FIRE WITH WATER HOSE

5. VARIOUS OF FIREFIGHTER CONTROLLING CHERRY PICKER

6. ROOF OF CATHEDRAL ON FIRE

7. UKRAINE'S INTERIOR MINISTER, IHOR KLYMENKO, LOOKING ON

8. VARIOUS OF FIREFIGHTERS ON CHERRY PICKER BATTLING FIRE

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINE'S INTERIOR MINISTER, IHOR KLYMENKO, SAYING:

"An enemy drone struck near the very centre of the cathedral’s roof - at a significant height. We are carrying out rescue and recovery operations."

10. FIRE ENGINE

11. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINE'S INTERIOR MINISTER, IHOR KLYMENKO, SAYING:

"Emergency crews are doing everything possible to prevent the fire from spreading. Extinguishing it is difficult due to the large number of wooden structures. Frescoes and painted surfaces ignite quickly and we are worried about it."

12. FIREFIGHTER ON GROUND

13. FIREFIGHTER ON CHERRY PICKER BATTLING FIRE

14. VARIOUS OF GROUP OF FIREFIGHTERS LOOKING ON

15. FIREFIGHTERS ON TWO CHERRY PICKERS BATTLING FIRE

16. VARIOUS OF FIRE INSIDE CATHEDRAL

17. FIRE ENGINES

18. CATHEDRAL ON FIRE / FIRE ENGINES