Russian Strikes Target Kyiv, Causing Casualties and Damage to National Academy of Sciences

Russian forces have conducted strikes in Kyiv, Ukraine, following a drone attack on the National Academy of Sciences, which resulted in the deaths of at least two individuals. Explosions were reported across the city early on Tuesday, with Mayor Vitali Klitschko noting that missile debris fell in a courtyard and caused a fire in another building. The strikes are part of a broader pattern of attacks using faster, high-flying drones. Emergency officials confirmed that the drone strike on the Academy on Monday killed two people, with one body recovered from the rubble later in the evening. Video footage showed a drone impacting the building at a steep angle, resulting in an explosion and smoke rising into the sky. Volodymyr Horbulin, a former secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, stated that he was present during the attack and lost an assistant who was near the building. The academy is located near significant landmarks, including the German Embassy and government buildings. The academy condemned the attack as “Russian terror” directed at civilians. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha criticized Russia for targeting a scientific institution during working hours, urging allies to enhance air defenses. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Russian forces also attacked a medical facility in Kyiv, resulting in at least nine deaths and over 80 injuries from drone strikes across the country. He noted challenges in countering the faster Russian drones, with 90 out of 120 drones launched on Monday being jet-propelled, achieving a 57 percent interception rate. The strikes also targeted a pharmaceutical company and petrol stations, while civilian facilities were hit in other cities. In Dnipro, a drone attack on a business center resulted in three deaths and 19 injuries. An attack in Zaporizhzhia wounded 32 people. Al Jazeera's Jonah Hull reported that Russia has been targeting economic infrastructure in Ukraine over the past six days, including data centers and communications providers. Ukraine has responded by targeting Russian oil facilities and defense plants. Both sides have denied intentionally targeting civilians.