In brief
A Russian drone struck the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) headquarters in Kyiv, targeting the office of security chief Oleksandr Poklad. Five people were injured and a nearby café sustained damage. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky demanded a tangible response and threatened counter‑strikes, while Moscow has reportedly expanded its precision drone attacks amid ongoing peace talks. Firefighters battled smoke in the building and the incident underscores Russia’s growing ability to hit key government sites. Diplomats warn the strike could prompt escalation before U.S. mediators meet with Putin and Zelensky.
A Russian drone struck the headquarters of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in Kyiv, targeting the office of security chief Oleksandr Poklad. Down below, firefighters sprayed water on the smoke plume and the building's windows cracked.
Five people were injured in the attack, with a nearby café sustaining damage. President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was tweeting via Telegram, told aides that he had spoken with Poklad and urged a tangible counter‑response. He said the attack signals a “major escalation” and threatened that Ukraine would meet the strike with a comparable counter‑attack when ready.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Shybiha called the drone strike a clear rejection of diplomacy, while Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed the injuries and the café casualty. Russian troops, meanwhile, have been increasing daytime drone attacks, including jet‑powered models that harder to intercept.
Firefighters are still battling smoke and clearing debris, but the SBU’s role—executing deep strikes against Russian infrastructure—remains critical to Ukraine’s war effort.
