Russian drone strikes Ukraine's security service headquarters in Kyiv, Zelensky says
A Russian drone hit the headquarters of Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) in central Kyiv on Friday, injuring five people. President Zelensky said the strike was aimed directly at the office of the service's chief.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said a Russian drone struck the central headquarters of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) on Volodymyrska Street in Kyiv on Friday, across from St. Sophia Cathedral. Speaking after a call with acting SBU chief Oleksandr Poklad, Zelensky said on X that the drone had been aimed directly at the office of the service's head within the building.
Zelensky said he had instructed the SBU chief to prepare a proportionate and tangible response to Russia, ideally one that mirrors the strike, once preparations are complete.
Kyiv's mayor said on Telegram that five people were injured in the attack. Heavy black smoke rose from the site in the historic part of the city near the UNESCO-listed St. Sophia Cathedral, as ambulances and emergency crews rushed to the scene. The owner of a well-known bakery, Zavertailo, said on Telegram that their building had been destroyed in the strike.
Attacks day and night
Kyiv has faced continuous Russian drone attacks for ten days. A university in the city centre was also hit on Wednesday. In recent days, Russia has shifted tactics, deploying fast, jet-powered drones, ending hopes that daylight hours might bring a return to normal life — strikes are now occurring both day and night.
Air-raid sirens have become a fixture of daily life in Kyiv, disrupting commutes, shopping, weddings and funerals. Malls, banks and other businesses require staff and customers to evacuate whenever an alert sounds, turning routine errands into repeated cycles of leaving and returning. Residents describe growing exhaustion from the relentless alerts, though the attacks show no sign of easing, leaving Ukraine still searching for an effective way to counter them.
