Russian strikes leave landmark Kyiv cathedral in flames, kill 11

KYIV, June 15 (AFP): Russia fired a barrage of missiles at several major Ukrainian cities on Monday, killing at least 11 people and sparking a fire at one of the most important Orthodox monasteries.

The air force said Moscow had launched 70 missiles and 611 drones, mainly targeting the capital, adding that Ukrainian air defence units had downed 50 missiles and 582 drones.

AFP journalists across Kyiv witnessed residents running through the streets seeking shelter throughout the night as projectiles were intercepted in the sky and glowing debris fell across the darkened city.

In response to the assault Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for more pressure on Moscow from G7 leaders, who were gathering at a summit in France set to be dominated by the US-Iranian deal to end the Middle East war.

The violence killed five people and wounded 34 in the capital as fire broke out on the grounds of the UNESCO world heritage site Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, setting ablaze the roof of its Dormition Cathedral.

"This is one of Russia's most serious crimes against Christian culture to date," Zelensky said on social media.

Founded in the 11th century, the site holds huge significance for Orthodox believers in both Ukraine and Russia.

Russia's military said it had carried out a "massive strike" on military sites in Kyiv, as well as the Kharkiv and Dnipro regions, but denied targeting the Lavra, saying it was hit by an outdated US Patriot air defence missile.

Moscow fired 70 missiles and 611 drones, mainly targeting the capital, Ukraine's air force said, adding it had downed 50 of the missiles and 582 drones.

In the morning Kyiv sun, an AFP reporter saw rescuers carefully cleaning up rubble at the monastery, as the church bells rang out the tune of the Ukrainian anthem.

Zelensky called for G7 leaders, meeting for a summit in France, to give a "decisive and substantive" response to the attacks.

He urged "more pressure on the aggressor and more support for Ukraine's air defence, especially anti-ballistic capabilities."

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the G7 leaders will "discuss the next steps to increase pressure on Russia, bring (Russian President Vladimir) Putin to the negotiating table, and end this senseless killing."

In Kyiv, museum worker Natalia Korol said she was "outraged" by the strike on the monastery.

"It is a shrine. They also say that it is their shrine. You cannot strike shrines," the 52-year-old woman told AFP.

The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, a monastery with emblematic golden domes, is venerated by both the Russian and Ukrainian wings of the Orthodox Church as one of their most important spiritual centres.

Its sprawling cave system holds the relics of dozens of saints revered by both churches.

The Dormition Cathedral, set alight in the overnight attacks, was almost completely destroyed during World War II and rebuilt only in the 1990s.

The Russian Orthodox Church administered the site via its Ukrainian branch for centuries.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday he had proposed a meeting with Russia's Vladimir Putin at the G7 in France, but that Moscow was "not ready" for it.

Putin has repeatedly rejected offers for a face-to-face meeting with Zelensky to try to broker an end to more than four years of war.

G7 leaders were gathering Monday for summit in France's Evian-Les-Bains.

"Before the G7 started, I'll be honest, we gave message that we are ready to meet with Putin during G7," Zelensky said in English as he visited a landmark Kyiv monastery damaged by overnight Russian strikes.

"Europeans plus America: this is a very good opportunity to meet all together and that's why we (could) have been able to invite the Russian side," he said, in comments televised by Ukrainian media.

Zelensky claimed Europe and the US had agreed to such a format but Moscow had "once again demonstrated that it is not ready to speak about this."

He called for more pressure on Putin "until he will end this war."

Earlier, the EU on Monday is due to move Ukraine's bid to join onto the next stage after a long delay -- but that doesn't mean Kyiv's path to full membership is getting easier.

Foreign ministers from the 27-nation bloc will formally kick off negotiations with Ukraine, and neighbouring Moldova, on aligning with a first "cluster" of EU laws.

Ukraine's progress was stuck for some two years as Hungary's nationalist leader Viktor Orban vetoed all progress, but his election defeat by rival Peter Magyar in April opened up the way.