Russian Drone Strike on Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences Claims Life of Gorbulin’s Assistant

Deadly Attack on Ukraine’s National Academy of Sciences

According to Рубрика — Суспільство: On September 28, 2026, a Russian drone struck the building of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, resulting in a fatality. Natalia, who served as the personal assistant to Vladimir Gorbulin, the former Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, was killed in the attack. Another staff member, whose office was directly hit, is currently unaccounted for. Vladimir Gorbulin sustained minor injuries caused by shattered glass and is reported to be alive.

The drone impact targeted a room located one floor above Gorbulin's office. The explosion ignited a fire inside the building, prompting some individuals to escape through windows. Authorities have confirmed one confirmed death and five others injured. The Academy’s press service released a statement confirming the assistant’s death and updating on the situation:

"A woman, Gorbulin’s assistant, was killed. Gorbulin himself is alive. Contact has not been established with another colleague whose office was struck. Firefighters are still working to extinguish the blaze."

Vladimir Gorbulin’s Role and the Broader Conflict

Vladimir Gorbulin is a prominent figure in Ukraine’s scientific and security sectors. During the 1990s, he served as General Director of Ukraine’s National Space Agency and contributed to the creation of the country’s first National Space Program. He later held the position of Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council and acted as a presidential advisor on national security matters. Currently, Gorbulin is an academician and Vice President of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. In August 2025, President Volodymyr Zelensky awarded him the title "National Legend of Ukraine."

This attack on the National Academy of Sciences is part of a series of recent Russian military strikes across Ukraine. Besides this incident, Russian forces have targeted Odessa and Zaporizhzhia, causing civilian casualties and damaging residential buildings and businesses. The Russian military also hit a business center in Dnipro and shelled the central market in Izyum using multiple launch rocket systems, resulting in further deaths and injuries. Additional attacks have affected industrial and residential areas in the Chernihiv and Zhytomyr regions, leading to more victims and wounded.

These events underscore the ongoing aggression by Russian forces, who continue to deliberately attack civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. Striking the National Academy of Sciences-a hub for the nation’s leading researchers-reflects an effort to inflict not only physical destruction but also psychological harm, targeting Ukraine’s intellectual capacity. In the context of the protracted conflict, such attacks raise serious concerns about regional security and stability, emphasizing the need for international awareness and response.

The recent attack on the National Academy of Sciences is part of a larger pattern of escalating violence against Ukrainian institutions. For further insights into similar incidents, including deadly drone strikes on other key locations in Kyiv and Dnipro, you can read more about the implications of these assaults on Ukraine's infrastructure and security here.