Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for stronger international pressure on Russia after a Russian attack struck the National Academy of Sciences in central Kyiv, killing at least one person and injuring others, including children.
The September 28 attack formed part of a wider wave of Russian strikes across Ukraine, with a medical facility, pharmaceutical company and petrol stations also reported hit in Kyiv, while a business centre in Dnipro was among other locations targeted.
One Killed in Strike on National Academy of Sciences
Emergency crews rushed to the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine after a drone struck the building in central Kyiv.
Zelenskyy initially said one person had been killed and six others injured at the academy site, including three children.
Firefighters worked to extinguish the resulting blaze while rescuers searched the damaged building for anyone who might have been trapped inside.
Emergency Crews Search Damaged Kyiv Building
The attack triggered a major rescue operation as emergency personnel worked through the damaged structure.
Zelenskyy said all relevant services had been deployed, with crews battling the fire and searching for people inside.
The strike was independently reported as a Russian drone attack on the academy, one of Ukraine’s most prominent scientific institutions.
Medical Facility Hit in Central Kyiv
Hours after the academy was struck, another Russian attack hit a building housing a medical facility in central Kyiv.
The affected site was identified in reporting as a Dobrobut medical centre in the capital’s Shevchenkivskyi district. Images from the scene showed flames and smoke coming from the building as emergency crews responded.
Zelenskyy said firefighters were working to extinguish the blaze as quickly as possible.
Kyiv Attacks Extend Beyond Science and Medical Buildings
The Ukrainian president said the day’s strikes affected several other civilian and commercial locations.
A pharmaceutical company and petrol stations were among the sites attacked in Kyiv, while civilian infrastructure, businesses and communications facilities were also targeted elsewhere in Ukraine.
Reuters confirmed that the pharmaceutical company and petrol stations were among the Kyiv locations Zelenskyy said had been hit.
Dnipro Business Centre Also Struck
The attacks extended beyond the Ukrainian capital.
Zelenskyy said a business centre in Dnipro had been targeted as Russia carried out strikes against multiple Ukrainian cities and regions.
Officials reported three deaths and 19 injuries from the Dnipro strike, demonstrating the broader human toll of the day’s attacks beyond Kyiv.
Zelenskyy Calls for ‘Total’ Pressure on Russia
Following the attacks, Zelenskyy renewed his demand for Ukraine’s international partners to increase pressure on Moscow.
He argued that stronger measures should target the organisations, industries and financial resources that enable Russia to manufacture and deploy weapons against Ukraine.
“Every Russian act of terror results in casualties that could have been prevented if pressure on Russia had finally become total,” Zelenskyy said.
He specifically called for pressure against those financing and producing Russian weapons as well as those responsible for using them.
Ukrainian President Warns Attacks Could Continue
Zelenskyy argued that insufficient international action would allow Russia to continue escalating its attacks.
“The world must understand that terrorists will keep going if they are not stopped here, in Ukraine,” he said.
His description of the Russian attacks as terrorism reflects the Ukrainian government’s position. Moscow has repeatedly denied deliberately targeting civilians during the war, although Russian attacks have caused extensive civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure.
Zelenskyy Looks to Europe and America for Stronger Response
The Ukrainian president directed his appeal particularly toward Ukraine’s major international partners.
He said Kyiv was counting on Europe, the United States and other countries capable of strengthening Ukraine’s ability to protect civilians.
Zelenskyy argued that continued support for Ukraine should be understood not only as military assistance but as a defence of civilian lives and the principle that attacks against civilian infrastructure should not become normalised.
Kyiv Says Russia Must Face Consequences
Zelenskyy also vowed that Russia would face a response following the latest attacks.
“Russia will definitely face a response to this,” he said while discussing the strike on the National Academy of Sciences.
He urged Ukraine’s allies not to ignore what happened in Kyiv and other cities, arguing that Moscow should face accountability and tangible consequences.
The appeal comes as Ukraine continues pressing Western governments for stronger air-defence capabilities and additional sanctions against Russia. Days earlier, Zelenskyy had discussed stronger sanctions and protection against Russian ballistic missiles with members of the US House of Representatives.
Civilian Sites Remain at Centre of Ukraine’s Appeal
For Zelenskyy, the locations damaged on September 28 strengthened his argument that Ukraine requires continued international assistance.
A scientific institution, medical facility, pharmaceutical business, petrol stations and other civilian and commercial locations were among the sites reported affected during the day’s attacks.
As emergency crews continued dealing with the destruction, Zelenskyy framed the attacks as another reason for Ukraine’s allies to intensify their response rather than allow the war and its consequences for civilians to become accepted as routine.
“Supporting Ukraine means truly supporting people’s lives,” the Ukrainian president said, as he called for what he described as global resolve and strength.
