Popular pro-war outlet effectively acknowledges Russian responsibility for the Kyiv monastery strike — while defending it and ridiculing fellow Z-bloggers for rejecting such attacks The pro-war Telegram channel Rybar, reportedly linked to Russia’s Defense Ministry, has effectively acknowledged Russian responsibility for a strike on the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery. Rybar’s authors criticized inconsistencies among other pro-war bloggers who advocate for harsh attacks but then condemn them when they occur, even without casualties. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed the monastery was hit by a U.S.-supplied Patriot missile, while Lavra officials stated it was targeted by two Russian drone strikes.

• Rybar, a Telegram channel associated with Russia’s Defense Ministry, has implied Russian forces were responsible for striking the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra.
• The channel accused other pro-war bloggers of hypocrisy for condemning the monastery strike after advocating for aggressive attacks on Kyiv.
• Rybar stated that even a minor strike, like hitting the monastery roof, was met with claims of fake news and conspiracy by some bloggers.
• Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed the strike was caused by a malfunctioning U.S.-supplied Patriot missile.
• Lavra officials reported two targeted drone strikes on the complex, causing damage to the Dormition Cathedral.
• The attack followed a Ukrainian drone strike on a museum in Sevastopol, after which Dmitry Medvedev suggested retaliatory strikes on similar Ukrainian sites.