Russian drone strike hits Kyiv's National Academy of Sciences, killing two

September 28, 2026 at 04:48 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

A Russian drone struck the National Academy of Sciences building in central Kyiv on September 28, 2026, killing two academics and injuring others. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said a rescue operation is underway as firefighters battle the blaze and search for people trapped inside. The strike was part of a wider drone attack on civilian targets across Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.

Key Facts

Two academics were killed in the drone strike on the National Academy of Sciences building in Kyiv, according to UNIAN citing NAN President Anatoliy Zahorodniy.
The building, located at 54 Volodymyrska Street, is a national historic monument built in the mid-19th century.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that pharmaceutical companies and gas stations in Kyiv were also attacked, along with a business center in Dnipro.
More than 300 properties belonging to the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine have been destroyed or damaged since the start of Russia's full-scale war.

The Strike

A Russian drone directly hit the presidium building of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine on Volodymyrska Street in central Kyiv on September 28, 2026. The strike caused a large fire, and people inside were forced to escape through windows. Two academics were killed, and contact with several others has been lost, according to UNIAN citing NAN President Anatoliy Zahorodniy. Emergency services and other relevant agencies are working at the scene, and local residents have been urged to stay away from the area.

Wider Attacks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that on the same day, pharmaceutical companies and gas stations in Kyiv were also attacked. A business center in Dnipro was hit, and civilian objects, enterprises, and communication facilities were damaged in other cities and regions. Zelensky reported that there are fatalities from these strikes and that Russia must be held accountable. Another Russian strike hit the Dobrobut medical center in central Kyiv, though details on casualties were not immediately available.

Response and Aftermath

Zelensky said a rescue operation is ongoing, with firefighters extinguishing the blaze and searching for people who may have been inside the building. The German Embassy in Kyiv, the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, and the office of national operator Ukrtelecom are located near the damaged buildings. The presidium building of the National Academy of Sciences, built in the mid-19th century, is a monument of national historical significance. Since the start of Russia's full-scale war, more than 300 properties of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine have been completely destroyed or damaged.