Cathedral in Kyiv Ablaze After Russian Attack: 'Equivalent to Bombing Notre-Dame,' Says French Minister

A violent fire ravaged the Dormition Cathedral within Kyiv's Lavra monastery complex on Monday following a Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian capital. The cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot condemned the massive strikes that hit Kyiv overnight, denouncing the "extremely severe damage to the Dormition Cathedral." He compared the incident to the bombing of Notre-Dame or Saint-Denis in France, calling it "obviously unacceptable."

"Vladimir Putin's Russia has shown the extent of its cruelty," Barrot stated, adding that the strikes killed at least nine Ukrainians. He characterized these attacks as proof that Putin "persists in his colonial war and represents an obstacle to peace."

In response to the ongoing aggression, France reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ukraine. "In this context, our support for Ukraine continues and is amplified," the minister said as the G7 summit opened in Evian, with Donald Trump in attendance.