Russian drone hits Ukraine’s intelligence HQ in Kyiv
A Russian drone struck the headquarters of Ukraine's SBU security service in central Kyiv on Friday, with officials saying the strike deliberately targeted the office of the agency's chief. The attack, which injured five people, underscores the continued vulnerability of Ukrainian institutions to Russian drone strikes deep inside the capital, even as the conflict continues.
President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the drone hit the SBU's central building on Volodymyrska Street, opposite St Sophia Cathedral, saying it was "aimed directly at the office of the head of the Security Service" after speaking with acting SBU chief Oleksandr Poklad. Kyiv's mayor reported five people injured in the strike, with thick black smoke seen billowing from the site. The report is developing, with further details expected.
In short
- Russian drone hit Ukraine's SBU intelligence HQ in Kyiv
- Zelensky says strike targeted SBU chief's office directly
- Five people injured; incident still developing
Explained simply
The Security Service of Ukraine, known as the SBU, is the country’s domestic security and intelligence agency. It investigates threats to the state and has a role in countering Russian espionage and sabotage during the war.
The SBU is led by a chief and operates from offices in Kyiv. Ukraine’s president is Volodymyr Zelensky; the agency’s leadership works within the government, while the city’s mayor oversees local services such as emergency response.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, and attacks have reached Kyiv as well as areas nearer the front. A strike on a central government agency matters because it raises questions about the safety of state institutions and the capital’s defences.
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