Russian strikes hit Kyiv academy and surrounding areas, leaving casualties
Daytime drone and missile attacks on Kyiv and surrounding areas caused multiple casualties, including a strike on the National Academy of Sciences.
Russian strikes hitting the Ukrainian capital and its surrounding region resulted in two deaths and multiple injuries, according to local officials including Mayor Vitali Klitschko and regional military governor Timoer Tkatsjenko. President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that residential buildings, telecommunications infrastructure, gas stations, and a pharmaceutical company in Kyiv were damaged during the assaults. In the Bucha district and other nearby areas, municipal leaders and officials confirmed fatalities and ongoing emergency response efforts.
A separate Russian drone struck the National Academy of Sciences building in central Kyiv during the afternoon, sparking a heavy fire that trapped workers inside. According to local media reports and emergency accounts, occupants climbed onto window sills to escape thick smoke before rescue services arrived. Mayor Klitschko provided a preliminary count of at least one person killed and three wounded at the academy site, while Shevchenkivskyi District State Administration head Oleksandr Sazanovych urged residents to stay away from the cordoned-off zone.
Additional strikes targeted various locations across Ukraine, including a residential building hit by gliding bombs in Kharkiv that left 29 people injured, among them ten minors, according to local authorities such as Mayor Ihor Terechov. In the Odesa region, a Palau-flagged ship and a local logistics center were reportedly hit, resulting in two injuries according to local authorities. Meanwhile, the Russian defense ministry stated that its military operations were aimed at data centers in Kyiv supplying mobile and internet services to the Ukrainian military, alongside logistics facilities in Odessa.
President Zelensky condemned the widespread attacks on civilian infrastructure and urged international partners to recognize the ongoing threat and maintain support for Ukraine. Concurrently, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned in Brussels that intelligence reports indicate Russia is planning further sabotage actions and attacks across Europe. According to Kallas, these planned operations aim to divide European societies and intimidate nations into reducing their assistance to Kyiv.
What we know
- Two people were killed and others injured in attacks just outside Kyiv.
- A Russian drone struck the National Academy of Sciences in central Kyiv, causing a major fire.
- At least one person was killed and three wounded at the academy building, according to preliminary municipal figures.
- Kharkiv suffered a separate attack on an apartment building resulting in 29 injuries, including ten children.
- EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned that intelligence indicates further Russian sabotage plots in Europe.
Not yet confirmed
- Reports regarding the exact total number of wounded across all impacted Kyiv locations varied between preliminary municipal updates and specific district tolls.
Why it matters for Europe
The continuous escalation of missile and drone attacks on urban centres such as Kyiv and Kharkiv highlights the ongoing vulnerability of Ukrainian population hubs to aerial bombardment and infrastructure targeting. Furthermore, warnings from European Union leadership regarding planned Russian sabotage across the continent emphasize the broader security implications of the conflict for neighboring European states and the need for heightened vigilance.
Sources
Reported by 14 reports from 14 independent outlets in 6 countries.
Intelligence file
PremiumSee how we verified this story
Confidence and impact scores, 19 more sources, the full situation report and the event timeline.
Questions and answers
- Where did the daytime drone strike occur in central Kyiv?
- The drone struck the National Academy of Sciences building, located near the German embassy, opera house, and government offices.
- How many casualties were reported following the apartment building strike in Kharkiv?
- Local authorities reported 29 injuries, including ten minors, after a Russian gliding bomb hit the residential structure.
- What security warnings did European Union officials issue regarding Russia?
- EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned that intelligence reports indicate Russia is planning additional sabotage operations and attacks across Europe to divide society.
This article was written with AI assistance from 22 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.