A Russian drone struck the headquarters of Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) in central Kyiv on Friday afternoon, said President Volodymyr Zelensky. The drone hit the building on Volodymyrska Street, near St. Sophia Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Five people were injured in the attack, according to Kyiv's mayor.
Zelensky said the drone "was aimed directly at the office of the head of the Security Service" in the building. He told acting SBU chief Oleksandr Poklad to "deliver an appropriate, tangible response and, where possible, one that mirrors this strike, to the Russians once everything is ready."
The attack followed heavy overnight strikes across Ukraine, including in the southern Odesa region. Kyiv has faced continuous Russian drone attacks for ten days, with strikes occurring both day and night. Russia has recently employed fast-flying, jet-powered drones that have disrupted normal life in the capital.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called the strike on SBU headquarters "a major escalation that demands resolute responses." He said Moscow launched the attack "during a renewed push for peace" and characterized it as a "rejection of diplomacy."
Air-raid sirens have become routine in Kyiv, interrupting shopping, school, and business transactions. Residents report cycles of evacuation and re-entry into shops and malls as alerts sound repeatedly throughout the day. The relentless attacks have exhausted residents, with some questioning how long they can remain in the city.
