Key facts
- A Russian drone struck the central building of Ukraine's SBU intelligence agency in Kyiv.
- At least nine people were injured in the attack.
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ordered a "tangible response" to the strike.
- Ukraine's foreign minister characterized the incident as a "major escalation."
- The SBU headquarters is located on Volodymyrska Street, opposite St Sophia Cathedral.
A Russian drone struck the central building of Ukraine's SBU intelligence agency in Kyiv, causing plumes of black smoke and injuring at least nine people. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated he had directed the SBU to deliver an "appropriate, tangible response," while Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha characterized the attack as a "major escalation."
The SBU headquarters, located on Volodymyrska Street opposite St Sophia Cathedral, was the target of the drone, which President Zelenskyy noted was aimed directly at the office of the Head of the Security Service. Streets around the building were cordoned off, with emergency services present. This incident occurs amidst a period of intensified drone and missile attacks by Russia on Ukraine, with Kyiv facing critical shortages of air defense interceptors like the US-made Patriot.
Recent Russian strikes have increasingly utilized new-model jet-powered drones capable of high speeds, making them difficult to intercept. It is uncommon for government buildings in central Kyiv to be hit, especially in daylight, and the explosion was audible from several blocks away. The attack is expected to fuel further retaliatory strikes between Moscow and Kyiv, potentially raising concerns about Ukraine's ability to defend its critical infrastructure.
Sybiha urged international partners to "unequivocally condemn these actions and step up pressure on the Putin regime." A cafe owner near the SBU headquarters reported one of his customers was injured and that the blast shattered his cafe's windows. Staff and customers sought shelter, fearing a potential "double-tap" attack, a tactic Russia has employed where a second strike follows the first to target emergency responders.
The SBU plays a crucial role in coordinating operations against Russia, including past actions like Operation Spiderweb, which reportedly destroyed billions of dollars of aircraft within Russia. The strike comes shortly before an anticipated visit to Kyiv by Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner.