The central headquarters of Ukraine’s SBU intelligence agency was struck by a Russian drone on Friday, sending plumes of black smoke into the air over the heart of Kyiv. The attack, which occurred in broad daylight, targeted the building on Volodymyrska Street, situated directly across from the St Sophia Cathedral, a Unesco world heritage site. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the strike via Telegram, noting that the drone was aimed specifically at the office of the Head of the Security Service within the facility.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko stated that at least nine people were injured in the incident. In the aftermath, armed officers cordoned off the streets surrounding the SBU headquarters, while emergency services and numerous ambulances were deployed to the scene. The explosion was powerful enough to be heard several blocks away.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha characterized the strike as a “major escalation” and called on international partners to “unequivocally condemn these actions and step up pressure on the Putin regime.” In response to the attack, President Zelenskyy announced he had instructed the SBU to deliver an “appropriate, tangible response.”
The strike occurred during a period of near-daily drone and missile attacks on the capital that have persisted for over a week. Ukraine is currently facing a critical shortage of US-made Patriot interceptors, which are necessary to neutralize incoming threats. Many recent Russian strikes have utilized new-model jet-powered drones capable of reaching speeds of 250mph, making them difficult to intercept. The SBU is responsible for coordinating complex operations against Russia, including last year’s Operation Spiderweb, which destroyed aircraft worth billions of pounds inside Russian territory.
Local businesses were significantly impacted by the blast. Stanislav Zavertailo, co-owner of a nearby cafe, reported that the shockwaves shattered all the windows in his premises and injured one of his customers, who was eating a poppy seed roll at the time. Following the strike, staff and customers retreated to an underground shelter, fearing a “double-tap” attack—a tactic where Russia sends a second drone to target emergency responders. Although no second strike occurred within the hour, Zavertailo noted that the atmosphere remained tense as people waited for further attacks.
The incident occurs just two days before a planned visit to Kyiv by Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Diplomatic efforts to end the four-and-a-half-year invasion have stalled in recent months as the United States has shifted its focus toward the war with Iran.
