The Day the Lavra Burned

Editors led with the massive Russian overnight attack on Kyiv, focusing on the strike that set the historic Kyiv Pechersk Lavra ablaze. The assault, involving nearly 700 aerial weapons, killed at least five and wounded dozens across the capital. Coverage emphasized the cultural and religious symbolism, with reactions from Metropolitan Epifaniy, UNESCO, and the EU, which likened it to bombing Notre-Dame. By morning, Zelensky visited the damaged monastery and vowed a response, while the EU moved to approve a 21st sanctions package. As the day progressed, the narrative shifted to diplomacy: Trump, after sealing an Iran deal, said he would focus on Ukraine and spoke with both Zelensky and Putin, raising prospects for G7 peace talks. Zelensky proposed a direct meeting with Putin at the summit. Hungary threatened to block Ukraine's EU accession over minority rights, even as the EU opened the first negotiation cluster. Other stories included a Russian Tu-22M3 bomber crash, Poland's suspension of MiG-29 transfers, and new defense contract signings in Ukraine.