Ukraine: security services headquarters hit by Russian strike in central kyiv

A Russian drone strike hit the headquarters of the Ukrainian Security Services (SBU) in the historic center of kyiv on Friday, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

“Unfortunately, a Russian drone hit the central building of the SBU,” Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Telegram, affirming that the machine “directly targeted the office of the head” of this agency. “I instructed (SBU chief Oleksandr) Poklad to respond adequately to the Russians,” the Ukrainian leader added.

According to a source close to the matter interviewed by AFP, Oleksandr Poklad was not in his office at the time of the strike.

AFP journalists saw smoke rising above the city center while many passers-by observed the work of the emergency services dispatched to the scene. Several streets around the site were closed to traffic.

Seven people were injured in this historic district of the capital, “six of whom are being treated in city hospitals,” said kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko.

A “major escalation” for kyiv

“The attack on the SBU headquarters constitutes a major escalation which requires firm responses,” reacted the head of Ukrainian diplomacy, in a message posted on

Air alerts sounded several times in the capital on Friday. Moscow has increased drone and missile strikes in broad daylight on kyiv in recent weeks.