On September 28, a strike by a Russian drone pierced the historic façade of the National Academy of Sciences in Kyiv, igniting intense flames that soon engulfed the center of the building. One person was killed and three others injured in the blast, according to Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko.
Witnesses describe a frantic scene: residents leaped from windows, while emergency crews pushed people through broken panes to safety. The fire grew rapidly, sending black smoke billowing into the air.
Firefighters worked around the clock to stem the blaze, but the intensity of the fire and the structural damage hampered their efforts. Despite the chaos, the crisis team managed to evacuate the vast majority of occupants.
BBC’s diplomatic correspondent Paul Adams was on the scene, reporting live as he observed the emergency response and the desperate efforts to rescue those trapped inside. He noted that the building’s historical value and its current function as a hub of scientific research amplify the tragedy of the attack.
The incident marks a new phase in the extended conflict, deepening the toll on Kyiv’s cultural and educational infrastructure while highlighting the ongoing risk to civilian institutions. For further details, read the full BBC report at BBC News.
