Russian drones struck the National Academy of Sciences in the historic center of Kyiv on Monday, as Moscow's forces continue to pound the Ukrainian capital around the clock. Ukrainian officials reported that at least seven people were killed and more than 80 wounded as Russian strikes hit apartment blocks, offices, petrol stations, data centers, and cultural sites across the country.

In Kyiv, a woman died and several people were injured when a high-speed drone smashed into the academy building near the German embassy and key government institutions. Staff were seen escaping down firefighters' ladders as flames engulfed part of the structure. Mayor Vitali Klitschko condemned the strikes as "pure terror" aimed at disrupting normal life and breaking civilian morale.

Elsewhere, three people were killed in a strike on an office center in Dnipro, while dozens were wounded in attacks on Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Odesa. Moscow claims it is targeting military-related sites, but Ukraine accuses Russia of systematic attacks on civilians and infrastructure to cripple its economy and force concessions in stalled peace efforts to end the two countries' four-and-a-half-year war.

The strikes come amid heightened international concern over the escalating humanitarian crisis, with civilian casualties mounting and diplomatic efforts showing little progress. The targeting of cultural and educational institutions has drawn widespread condemnation, further complicating any potential path to a negotiated settlement.

Source: www.aljazeera.com