Russian drones hit Kyiv's Academy of Sciences as strikes spread across Ukraine

KYIV, Ukraine — Russian drones struck the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in central Kyiv on Monday, setting the historic building on fire in a rare daytime attack on the capital's downtown. Officials said at least one person was killed at the site.

The strike was part of a wider wave of attacks that has lasted almost a week. On Monday and Tuesday, drones and missiles hit an office center in Dnipro, where three people died, an apartment building in Kharkiv, where dozens were wounded including children, and targets in Zaporizhzhia. Data centers, a pharmaceutical company, fuel stations and ships in the Black Sea were also damaged.

Faster drones

Ukrainian officials say Russia is using more jet-powered drones, which fly faster than the older propeller models and are harder to shoot down. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said new interceptors are being tested to meet the threat. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Moscow of testing how much the world will tolerate.

The Kremlin said Ukraine would pay a price for its own recent attacks. Kyiv has kept up long-range strikes on Russian oil refineries, fuel depots and defense plants, and Russia's Defense Ministry said it downed more than 250 Ukrainian drones overnight.

Why it matters

The attacks come as the Trump administration presses for peace talks, while Moscow accuses European governments of trying to block them. The strike on a cultural and scientific landmark in the heart of Kyiv is likely to add pressure on Western allies to send more air-defense systems before winter.