Russian drones hit Kyiv's Academy of Sciences as Ukrainian arms makers warn of export licence strain

Russian drones struck a building of Ukraine's National Academy of Sciences in the historic heart of Kyiv on Monday, marking the latest deadly daytime attack on the Ukrainian capital. The strike underscores that Russia continues to target the city center even during daylight hours, hitting sites of historic significance.

The attack came as President Volodymyr Zelensky continues his long-running appeal to Ukraine's allies for increased military aid to help the country fend off Russia's ongoing aggression.

An untapped source of revenue

At the same time, Ukrainian weapons producers say the country could be generating significant revenue of its own if it were allowed greater freedom to export its military products abroad. Industry representatives warn that current strict export licensing rules are preventing this and gradually eroding Ukrainian manufacturers' competitive edge on the international arms market.

The situation highlights a tension: Ukraine continues to call on its partners for more military support, while its own arms industry says it is unable to fully capitalize on its production capacity for export earnings because of licensing restrictions imposed by the state itself.

The developments in Kyiv and the concerns raised by arms producers were reported by France 24 correspondent Gulliver Cragg.