Russia denies strike on Kyiv monastery, claims fire caused by faulty US-made Patriot missile

Russia's Defense Ministry has denied striking the Dormition Cathedral at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery during an overnight attack, instead claiming that a US-made Patriot air defense missile damaged the religious site. The ministry suggested the Patriot missile may have malfunctioned because Western countries supplied Ukraine with expired arms.

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

"The armed forces of the Russian Federation do not plan or carry out strikes against civilian infrastructure," the Russian Defense Ministry stated. It further asserted that "the complex of buildings at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra was struck by a missile from the American Patriot air defense system." The ministry posited that "one possible reason for the malfunction of this system could be that Western countries supplied the Kyiv regime with missiles that had expired."

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According to confirmed reports, the complex of buildings at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra was struck by a missile from the American Patriot air defense system. One possible reason for the malfunction of this system could be that Western countries supplied the Kyiv regime with missiles that had expired.

The UNESCO World Heritage monastery caught fire during the heaviest Russian air assault on the Ukrainian capital in two weeks. While Moscow stated its attack targeted drone manufacturing facilities, Ukrainian officials and Western countries accused Russia of hitting the monastery. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the act as an "attack on the Christian community and on the cultural heritage of humanity," calling for international action to "stop Russia’s war."

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There can be no justification for this or for any other similar Russian attacks, he said, calling on the international community to join together to "stop Russia’s war and stronger protection to save lives from Russia."

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko described the incident as a "brutal assault on our people and our heritage," labeling it as the "true face of Russia's Orthodox values." Metropolitan Epifaniy, head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, also denounced the act, questioning what more the "Kremlin Antichrist" must do for decisive global action. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot compared the strike to bombing Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, calling it "totally unacceptable."

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A brutal assault on our people and our heritage. This is the true face of Russia's Orthodox values.