Massive strikes on Ukraine: Russians did not accidentally damage St. Sophia
10 June 2025 17:18
ANALYSIS FROM 
On the night of June 10, Russia launched one of the largest air strikes against Ukraine in recent months. Hundreds of drones and missiles – including cruise, ballistic, and “shahideen” missiles – simultaneously attacked several cities. Not only infrastructure and residential areas have been damaged, but also symbols of Ukrainian culture and statehood. What is the reason for this wave of terror and what Russia was aiming at?
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted to the attack immediately in his address.
“Every night, instead of a ceasefire, there have been massive attacks with Shaheds, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles… Everyone can see that these attacks are louder than attempts at peace. And the response to such terror must be tough, – Volodymyr Zelenskyy
What was the target?
American officials in comments to Reuters the day before said: Moscow is preparing another multi-vector strike in response to the Ukrainian drone attack on Russian military aircraft. According to them, Russia may act “asymmetrically,” choosing targets that will have emotional and symbolic weight rather than military ones.
This version is partially confirmed by the hit on St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv. Minister of Culture Mykola Tochytskyi reported that the main apse of the 11th-century church, one of Ukraine’s spiritual and cultural centers, was damaged:
“Last night the enemy struck again at the very heart of our identity. The St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, a shrine that has survived centuries and symbolizes the birth of our statehood, was damaged. The blast wave caused the destruction of the cornice on the main apse of the monument of national importance, – Mykola Tochytskyi
Moreover, recently in an interview with
We then did a lot of work together with the team and the Ministry of Culture to protect the shrine as best we could. But I do not exclude that it is still on their list of targets. And the recent information about a Russian Oreshnyk missile targeting Kyiv only heightens my concerns. It is important for them to destroy our identity,” said Nelia Kukovalska.
The Odesa Film Studio, which is part of the country’s cultural history, also suffered a symbolic blow: pavilions and a car fleet were damaged, and the set for the Dovzhenko film was destroyed.
An attack with a subtext
Doctor of Philosophy, Professor Serhiy Yahodzinsky also speaks about the political and informational purpose of the attacks. In an exclusive commentary to our publication, he noted:
“After every successful Ukrainian operation, Russia tries to strike preemptively. They hit us so that we stop hitting them, – Serhiy Yahodzinsky
According to the professor, Russia is counting not only on physical damage, but also on a psychological effect – to sow panic, pressure on the state leadership, and the desire “not to provoke the enemy.”
Such strikes should create a demand in society: “Why are we doing this if we are going to get hit later?” But the average Ukrainian today realizes that he or she is not the one who makes decisions about military operations. That is why attempts to put pressure through fear are futile, – Serhiy Yahodzinsky
The war does not end with shelling
Amid a new wave of attacks, the Kremlin continues to claim “protection of its own citizens” and “ retaliation” and even threatens new escalations. However, as Yahodzinsky emphasizes:
“It is a fake notion that by extinguishing Ukrainians with 500 drones and a few ballistic missiles, they will have peace. There will be no peace, – Serhiy Yahodzinsky
Moreover, after the recent shelling of Ukrainian cities, Russian propaganda again started talking about the “accidental” attacks on civilian targets, trying to shift the blame to Ukrainian missiles and drones. They even used excuses like the one voiced by Vladimir Medinsky: that if a missile deviated and killed people in Russia, it was a “war.” However, according to Serhiy Yagodzinsky, PhD, such statements indicate a much deeper crisis than just verbal manipulation.
Even Medinsky himself recognizes that this is a war. And if he is talking about it publicly, it means that the Kremlin realizes that fear can no longer be kept within Ukraine alone. Now, Russians will also have to learn to live in an atmosphere of anxiety for which they are not ready. The only thing that can stop this is not another missile, but the end of the war,” says Serhiy Yahodzinsky.
Thus, Russia’s massive strikes against Ukraine are not only a reaction to successful Ukrainian operations, but also an attempt to intimidate, break the spirit and strike at the symbols of our national identity.
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