A Russian drone strike on a building of Ukraine’s National Academy of Sciences in Kyiv killed two people and injured seven, according to the Office of the President of Ukraine.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited the damaged building on October 4 and spoke with first responders who dealt with the aftermath of the September 28 attack.
The Ukrainian presidency said the Academy building suffered a direct hit by a Russian Shahed-type drone.
Zelenskyy and Merz Visit the Site
The visit took place during Merz’s trip to Kyiv for political, defense and economic talks.
By visiting the damaged Academy building, Ukrainian officials also drew attention to a part of the war that receives less attention than frontline developments: damage to scientific, educational and research infrastructure.
Science During Wartime
The National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine is one of the country’s principal scientific institutions, with institutes covering fields ranging from physics and mathematics to biology, engineering and the social sciences.
Damage to scientific infrastructure can have consequences beyond the immediate physical destruction. Laboratories, archives, specialized equipment and long-running research projects can take years to replace.
Protection of Civilian Infrastructure
The September 28 strike came amid continuing Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities. Ukraine says defending civilian and critical infrastructure requires both advanced air-defense systems and large numbers of lower-cost systems capable of intercepting drones.
On the same day Merz visited the Academy, Ukrainian officials discussed additional Patriot and IRIS-T missiles with Germany as well as further counter-drone cooperation.
Reconstruction Will Include Science
Discussion of Ukrainian reconstruction often focuses on housing, electricity, transportation and industry. But restoring scientific institutes, universities, laboratories and human capital will also be part of the long-term challenge.
The damage to the National Academy of Sciences building in Kyiv illustrates why reconstruction will involve not only physical infrastructure but also institutions responsible for Ukraine’s technological and intellectual development.