Russian drone strike hits Kyiv security headquarters, Ukraine vows response
Kyiv, Ukraine — A Russian drone attack struck the headquarters of Ukraine's security service (SBU) in the capital on Friday, injuring at least five people, according to Ukrainian officials. The strike came amid heightened hostilities and renewed international efforts to broker peace.
Images widely shared online showed black smoke pouring from two windows on the front of the building. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said five people had been hurt in the attack, but did not elaborate on whether they were inside the offices.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a Telegram message that all emergency services were on the scene and that everyone affected would receive necessary assistance. He also instructed Colonel General Serhiy Poklad, head of the SBU, to deliver an appropriate and tangible response to the Russians once everything is ready, one that mirrors the strike where possible. “Our military will support this response,” Zelensky added.
Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha described the attack as a “major escalation that demands resolute responses.” He noted the strike came during a renewed push for peace, saying, “Moscow launched this strike during a renewed push for peace - laying bare its true rejection of diplomacy.”
On the same day, Russia's defence ministry said it had struck a cargo vessel in the Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk and a tanker near Odesa. These statements could not be independently verified.
In recent weeks, Russia has escalated its daytime strikes on Ukrainian targets, frequently employing jet-powered drones that are faster and harder to intercept. The type of munition used in the latest attack on the SBU headquarters has not yet been confirmed.
Neither Moscow nor Washington immediately commented on the strike. The incident underscores the fragility of ongoing diplomatic efforts, with both sides continuing to trade blows even as international mediators call for de-escalation.
