Russian forces struck the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, on Tuesday, hours after a drone attack on the National Academy of Sciences in the city's historic center killed at least two people.

Explosions were heard across Kyiv early Tuesday morning. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that missile debris had fallen in one building's courtyard, and a second building caught fire elsewhere in the city. The attacks follow a pattern of Russia targeting Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities with faster, high-flying jet drones.

Emergency officials confirmed that the strike on the National Academy of Sciences on Monday resulted in two fatalities, with one body recovered from the rubble. Video footage circulating online appeared to show a fast-moving drone impacting the building at a steep angle, followed by an explosion and flames engulfing a section of the structure. Witnesses were seen looking from windows as the fire spread.

Volodymyr Horbulin, a former secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, was present at the academy during the attack. He stated that his assistant, who was near the building, was killed, and he sustained minor injuries himself. The academy is situated near key landmarks including the German Embassy, a cathedral, the national opera, and government buildings.

In a statement, the National Academy of Sciences condemned the attack as "Russian terror" and "barbarity" directed at "peaceful people who were simply at their workplaces." Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha criticized Russia's actions as cynical, highlighting the targeting of a scientific institution during working hours. He urged Ukraine's allies to supply additional air defense systems, suggesting Russia is testing the international community's tolerance.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Russian forces also targeted a medical facility in Kyiv on Monday. He stated that at least nine people had died nationwide in Russian drone strikes, with over 80 individuals wounded. Zelenskyy noted in his nightly video address that Ukraine continues to face challenges in effectively countering the faster, high-flying Russian jet-powered drones.

Zelenskyy indicated that new interceptor systems are undergoing active testing, with some combat units employing them. However, he acknowledged that further refinements are needed to achieve sufficient effectiveness and scale, emphasizing the acceleration of development efforts. The Ukrainian presidency is working to address these technical aspects to improve defense capabilities against these advanced aerial threats.

The repeated attacks on civilian infrastructure and institutions underscore the ongoing intensity of the conflict and Ukraine's urgent need for advanced defensive capabilities to protect its population and critical sites.