Full Breakdown
Russian Drone Strike Hits National Academy of Sciences Building in Central Kyiv
By Drooid · · How we work
The Attack on September 28 2026
On September 28 2026 a Russian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) struck the building of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (NASU) in Kyiv’s central Shevchenkivskyi district. The impact ignited a fire that prompted an emergency response and resulted in civilian casualties. “In the Shevchenkivskyi district, in the center of the capital, a UAV fell onto a non-residential building. Fire. Emergency services are heading to the scene,” — Vitaliy Klitschko, Kyiv mayor
Background & Context
The strike came amid a wave of Russian drone attacks on Kyiv that began earlier in the week. On September 25 2026 a UAV hit an office building in the Solomianskyi district, killing several people and injuring dozens. Russian forces have repeatedly targeted civilian infrastructure throughout the capital.
Casualties and Damage
- NASU press service confirmed the drone “directly struck the NASU building,” but gave no casualty figures.
- Kyiv City Military Administration announced a woman was killed and that “injured and dead” were present.
- Mayor Klitschko later said one woman was killed and three people were injured, with the injured taken to hospitals.
Thus, confirmed fatalities range from one to an unspecified number, and injured persons are reported as three to “multiple.”
Official Statements & Responses
Mayor Klitschko urged residents to avoid the scene and thanked emergency crews. “An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has crashed into a non-residential building in the Shevchenkivskyi district, in the capital’s city center. A fire has broken out,” — Vitaliy Klitschko
“All emergency and relevant services are working at the site. I ask residents not to approach the scene and not to interfere with the work of the services,” — Oleksandr Sazanovych
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a rescue operation was underway, fire-fighting teams were extinguishing the blaze, and authorities were searching for anyone possibly trapped inside. “A rescue operation is currently underway, the fire is being extinguished, and they are searching for people who may have been inside the building. All services are involved,” — Volodymyr Zelenskyy
The NASU press service confirmed the direct hit but provided no further details on casualties or structural damage.
Verbatim Quotes
- “In the Shevchenkivskyi district, in the center of the capital, a UAV fell onto a nonresidential building. Fire. Emergency services are heading to the scene,” — Vitaliy Klitschko, Kyiv mayor
- “All emergency and relevant services are working at the site. I ask residents not to approach the scene and not to interfere with the work of the services,” — Oleksandr Sazanovych
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The primary discrepancy concerns the casualty count. Kyiv’s municipal administration reported one fatality and three injuries, while other statements referenced “multiple civilians” injured or killed without precise numbers. Independent verification of the exact number of people inside the building at the time of impact, as well as the total rescued, remains pending. The extent of structural damage to the NASU facility has not been publicly detailed beyond the confirmation of a direct hit.