‘This is terrorism’ Daytime Russian strike hits science academy in Kyiv

A Russian drone strike targeted the National Academy of Sciences in central Kyiv on Monday, September 28, 2026, leading to casualties and significant damage. The daytime attack resulted in at least two scientists being killed and multiple others wounded, with people seen escaping the burning 19th-century building through windows. Ukrainian officials, including the president of the academy, denounced the incident as an act of terrorism and an assault on science.

The strike occurred in a historic part of the capital, close to various diplomatic and cultural landmarks. While the academy is a civilian scientific institution, it has previously maintained connections to Ukraine's defense sector. In addition to the academy, another Russian drone hit a nearby private medical center, also causing at least one fatality.

These attacks were part of a broader series of Russian strikes across Ukraine, utilizing advanced jet-powered drones. The wider bombardment on September 28 led to at least seven deaths and over 50 injuries across the country. The international community, including European leaders, condemned the strikes, with the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine calling for the global scientific community to cease cooperation with Russian state scientific institutions.