Russian drone strike hits Ukraine’s security service headquarters in Kyiv escalation

A Russian drone struck the headquarters of Ukraine’s SBU security service in Kyiv on Friday, marking one of the most prominent targets hit during the war as Russia continues to intensify its campaign of aerial attacks across Ukraine.

Ukrainian officials described the strike as a major escalation, and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy pledged to retaliate as Moscow’s bombardment of the Ukrainian capital extended into its tenth consecutive day. Thick black smoke rose over Kyiv’s historic city centre following the attack, which the city’s mayor said left at least 12 people injured.

Ukrainian government buildings have rarely sustained direct damage from drone or missile strikes throughout more than four and a half years of war with Russia, making Friday’s attack notable both for its target and its symbolic significance. Zelenskiy said on the Telegram messaging app that the drone had been aimed specifically at the office of the head of the security service within the building.

He said he had ordered a proportionate and tangible response, adding that where possible the retaliation would mirror the nature of the strike itself. Zelenskiy said SBU head Oleksandr Poklad had briefed him on preparations for an active response to the recent wave of Russian strikes, sharing a photo from their meeting at his office in Kyiv. He added that the geography of Ukraine’s response had already been determined.

The SBU plays a central role in Ukraine’s broader war effort, carrying out high impact operations deep inside Russian territory aimed at damaging Moscow’s military capacity and energy infrastructure. The agency has been linked to some of the most ambitious operations of the war, including the 2022 bombing of a bridge connecting Russia to occupied Crimea and a 2025 drone operation, codenamed Spiderweb, that targeted Russian strategic bombers. The SBU is also widely seen as a key player behind a series of covert killings targeting senior Russian military officials and other figures Ukraine has accused of committing war crimes, operations that Russia has repeatedly condemned as acts of terrorism.

The strike on SBU headquarters came just as American negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were expected to travel to Moscow and Kyiv over the coming two days as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts. Those efforts have remained largely stalled for months, even as fighting continues along more than 1,200 kilometers of frontline and Ukrainian cities face near constant bombardment. Kyiv, meanwhile, has stepped up its own strikes inside Russian territory in an effort to weaken Moscow’s economic capacity to sustain the war.

A source familiar with the planning told a news agency that American officials were seeking assurances from both sides regarding the safety of the negotiating team ahead of planned visits to Moscow on Saturday and Kyiv on Sunday. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the attack on the SBU headquarters represented a major escalation requiring a firm response, adding that Russia had launched the strike even as renewed diplomatic efforts were underway, exposing what he described as Moscow’s underlying rejection of a negotiated peace.

Numerous ambulances and emergency crews responded to the scene of the strike, located in the historic heart of the city near Saint Sophia Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Witnesses in nearby buildings described the force of the blast as strong enough to shake the walls of surrounding structures.

The attack adds further uncertainty to an already fragile diplomatic track, with both sides continuing to trade strikes even as negotiators prepare to engage in talks aimed at ending a conflict that has shown few signs of slowing despite repeated attempts at mediation over the past several months.