Russia Denies Kyiv Monastery Strike, Blames Patriot Missile for Fire

Russia has denied responsibility for striking the historic Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site, during a recent air attack on the Ukrainian capital. The monastery complex caught fire amid Russia's most extensive assault on Kyiv in two weeks. Ukrainian authorities and several Western countries pointed fingers at Moscow for hitting the religious site.

However, the Russian Ministry of Defense asserted that its forces targeted facilities involved in drone production. According to the ministry, any damage to the monastery was the result of a missile fired by the American-supplied Patriot air defense system used by Ukrainian forces. "The armed forces of the Russian Federation do not plan and do not carry out strikes on civilian infrastructure," the ministry stated.

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The armed forces of the Russian Federation do not plan and do not carry out strikes on civilian infrastructure.

Russia suggested that the incident might have been caused by a technical malfunction or the use of expired missiles. "One of the possible causes could be that Western countries supplied the Kyiv regime with expired missiles," the ministry claimed. This statement comes as Ukraine continues to defend itself against ongoing Russian aggression, with both sides exchanging accusations regarding the conduct of the war and the targeting of civilian and cultural sites.

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One of the possible causes could be that Western countries supplied the Kyiv regime with expired missiles.