A Russian drone strike on Monday hit Ukraine's National Academy of Sciences in central Kyiv, triggering a major fire and forcing residents to escape from windows as thick black smoke engulfed the historic building. This attack represents a significant escalation in Russia's intensifying campaign against the Ukrainian capital, which has experienced continuous drone and missile strikes in recent weeks, increasingly during daylight hours.

Since Saturday, Russia has deployed 277 attack drones of various types, with 155 being jet-powered variants that fly higher and are harder to intercept. The strikes on Monday and Sunday killed at least three people and injured nine in Kyiv (including a child), with additional casualties reported in Sumy and Kharkiv; targets have included civilian areas near schools and playgrounds, the Saudi ambassador's residence, communications infrastructure and data centres. President Zelensky has characterised the attacks as "terrorism," arguing that Russia has no legitimate military objective and is instead attempting to destroy civilian morale and cause maximum harm to Ukrainian society.