Two scientists have been confirmed dead after a Russian strike directly hit the Presidium building of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (NASU) in central Kyiv on 28 September 2026, the Academy said. Several other staff members remain unaccounted for as rescue operations continue at the site, according to updated reports from Ukrainian state institutions.
Direct hit on a central scientific institution
The NASU said the attack struck the Presidium — the Academy’s main headquarters where researchers and administrative staff gather daily — in what the institution described as an intentional blow against Ukrainian science, education and culture. Flames swept through parts of the building and rescuers were still searching for colleagues after the strike.
“On September 28, 2026, a Russian strike hit directly on the building of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in Kyiv—a place where scientists and Academy employees come to work every day,” NASU said in an official statement.
Ukraine’s State Language Protection Commissioner, Taras Kremin, confirmed the revised death toll and said at least two scientists had died and several others were wounded. He characterised the strike as an effort to erase Ukrainian intellectual heritage and described it as part of a wider pattern of aggression against cultural and educational institutions.
What is known so far
- Date of attack: 28 September 2026.
- Location: Presidium building, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, central Kyiv.
- Confirmed fatalities: 2 scientists, according to NASU and state officials.
- Missing or unaccounted for: Several staff members; rescue operations ongoing.
- Damage: Fires swept through parts of the facility; searches for survivors under way.
The Academy’s statement framed the strike as "Russian terror" and said there were no words to justify what it called barbarism. It emphasised that the Presidium is a daily workplace for scientists and Academy employees and that the attack has both human and institutional consequences.
Implications for Ukraine’s scientific community
The Presidium houses researchers, administrative staff and serves as a symbolic and practical centre of Ukraine’s national research enterprise. Damage to such a building affects not only the immediate safety of individuals but also the continuity of scientific work, records and collaboration. The Academy and state officials have highlighted concern for colleagues whose contact had not been established.
Commissioner Kremin characterised the assault as an attempt to strike at the country’s intellectual foundations, saying that while physical infrastructure can be rebuilt, the loss of people and the disruption to scientific life carry long-term consequences.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Confirmed deaths | 2 scientists |
| Injuries / missing | Several wounded; several staff unaccounted for (ongoing search) |
| Institution affected | Presidium, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine |
Rescue efforts and investigations were continuing at the time of the latest reports. The Academy appealed for information about colleagues and described the strike as part of a broader campaign against Ukrainian culture and science.
As further details emerge from official Ukrainian sources, the immediate priorities remain accounting for missing staff, treating the wounded and assessing the full scale of damage to the Academy’s facilities and records. The strike has prompted renewed concern among Ukrainian officials over the targeting of institutions that support the country’s intellectual and cultural life.
