Europe Today: Ukraine seeks urgent funding in Brussels as Russia's drones pound Kyiv

Kyiv suffered a devastating daytime attack from Russian drones, as Ukrainian rescuers battled to control a fire at a medical center in the city center. The National Academy of Sciences, located in the historic heart of Kyiv, became the latest target of intense Russian drone assaults. Video footage showed a high-speed drone crashing into the academy, igniting a blaze that engulfed part of the building. Ukrainian officials reported casualties, including one death and multiple injuries.

The National Academy of Sciences is situated near key cultural sites and government buildings, making it a prime target for Russian aggression. President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack as "Russian terror and barbarity," specifically targeting Ukrainian scientists, educators, and cultural institutions. Russian strikes across Ukraine claimed four lives and wounded at least 19 more, as well as causing damage to civilian infrastructure in several regions.

Prime Minister Sergiy Koretsky called for increased Western military support, particularly US-made Patriot interceptors, as the conflict enters its fifth year. He warned that winter conditions could further strain Ukraine's already overburdened emergency services, urging vulnerable civilians to relocate before the cold season sets in. European defense ministers discussed the potential need for a European Union-style emergency mechanism to counter Russia's escalating campaign of sabotage and interference.