Intense Russian air strikes targeted Kyiv and Odesa overnight from June 10 to 11, resulting in significant damage to both cultural landmarks and civilian infrastructure. Among the affected sites, the historic Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv sustained damage, confirmed by Ukraine’s Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications, Mykola Tochytskyi.
“The attacker continues to kill Odesa, its people, and its cultural heritage,” Tochytskyi stated, highlighting the ongoing assault on the region’s cultural and civilian assets.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian forces launched a total of 322 aerial assault units, comprising 315 drones and seven missiles, with Kyiv bearing the brunt of the offensive. Air defense systems successfully intercepted and destroyed 284 of these units, including all missiles.
Ihor Klymenko, head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, detailed the aftermath of the attacks, noting that Kyiv and the Kyiv and Odesa regions experienced the heaviest strikes. The bombings ignited 19 fires, four of which remain active.
In Odesa, a residential apartment building was directly hit, resulting in two fatalities and nine injuries. Additional damage was reported to a maternity hospital, a first aid station, and several businesses. In Kyiv, four people sustained injuries, with the districts of Darnytsia, Obolon, Shevchenko, and Holosiiv identified as the most heavily affected areas.
The attacks, primarily aimed at political infrastructure, underscore the ongoing escalation of conflict in Ukraine and its toll on both civilian life and cultural heritage.
