A Russian drone struck the headquarters of Ukraine’s Security Service in central Kyiv on Friday, injuring at least 12 people and prompting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to order a retaliatory response.
The aircraft hit the SBU building on Volodymyrska Street, opposite St Sophia Cathedral, according to Zelenskyy. He said the drone had targeted the office of SBU head Oleksandr Poklad.
“I instructed Poklad to deliver an appropriate, tangible response and, where possible, one that mirrors this strike,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko later said 12 people had been injured, including two who were in serious condition. Nine people required hospital treatment.
Smoke rose from the building after the strike as emergency crews responded in the centre of the Ukrainian capital.
Zelenskyy said that the attack targeted the headquarters directly and that the drone was aimed at Poklad’s office. The strike took place during an air-raid alert in Kyiv.
A nearby restaurant also sustained damage. Air-raid sirens sounded at around 3pm local time and explosions were heard in central Kyiv about half an hour later, according to the Kyiv Independent.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called the attack a “major escalation” and urged foreign governments to condemn it and increase pressure on Moscow.
The location of the strike also raised concern because St Sophia Cathedral, a Unesco World Heritage site, stands nearby. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares described the attack as an “unacceptable escalation” and said it endangered civilians and cultural heritage.
The strike took place as the new Spanish ambassador to Ukraine was presenting credentials to Zelenskyy.
Zelenskyy later said Ukraine had already decided the “geography” of its response and would choose the timing based on operational considerations.
The attack followed several days of Russian strikes on Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine. Russian forces have increased the use of drones and missiles against the capital and energy infrastructure in recent days.
Diplomatic activity is also due to continue over the weekend. Axios reported that US representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to travel to Moscow and Kyiv for talks linked to efforts to end the war.
According to the report, the pair are due to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday and Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Sunday.
HT