Zelensky: Cluster Ballistic Missile Hit Between Kyiv's Lavra and Monastery

Overnight on October 22, Russian forces used three ballistic missiles with cluster warheads against Kyiv, among other weapons, and one of them struck the capital's historic center, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on social media.

Zelensky said he had heard reports on clearing up the aftermath of Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities and communities. According to Ukrainian authorities, the missiles explode in the air as they approach the target and hit everything within a diameter of 400 meters. One struck the Pechersk district, the historic center of Kyiv, in the territory between the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and the Holy Protection (Vvedensky) Monastery. Monastery buildings, ordinary houses, shops, cafes and other civilian infrastructure were damaged.

“This is yet another extremely telling strike — telling because it is not accidental. It is a deliberate choice of weapon, a deliberate choice of the area, a deliberate desire to inflict as many losses and as much damage on civilians as possible. There was not even theoretically a single military object nearby, and the weapon is designed for a wide area of destruction. Russia has not changed its approach to waging this war and is not taking steps that could show a real desire to stop it,” Zelensky said.

Earlier reports

Zelensky said earlier that after a meeting with the US special envoy and talks about peace and negotiations, the Russians fired 21 missiles at Kyiv, killing at least two people and wounding more than 30. According to presidential adviser and radio-technology specialist Serhiy Beskrestnov, known as “Flash,” Russia hit Kyiv overnight on October 22 with an Iskander missile carrying a K5 cluster warhead, which is used for maximum harm to people.