What Just Happened?
A Russian drone hit the headquarters of Ukraine’s security service – the SBU – in downtown Kyiv on Friday afternoon. The unmanned aircraft exploded just outside the main entrance, sending black smoke pouring from two windows. The strike was aimed at the office of the agency’s top officer, Oleksandr Poklad.
President Volodymyr Zelensky quickly posted to Telegram: "All emergency services are on the scene. Everyone affected will receive the necessary assistance." He also told Poklad to plan a "tangible response" back at the Russians once Kyiv is ready.
The attack is part of a growing trend of Russian day‑time drone strikes on Ukrainian targets. In addition, Russia reportedly hit a cargo vessel in Chornomorsk and a tanker near Odesa on the same day.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that five people were hurt in the building, though details of who was inside remain unclear. A nearby café suffered damage and a customer was taken to hospital.
Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha called the strike a "major escalation" and said it shows Russia’s rejection of diplomacy even as the US plans to bring mediators to Moscow and Kyiv this weekend.
US officials Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are set to meet Putin on Saturday and Zelensky on Sunday, hoping a peace deal can finally win a fragile cease‑fire. The tension now feels a lot tighter than the last day.
The SBU is only a few blocks from Saint Sophia Cathedral, one of Kyiv’s oldest buildings, highlighting how close the war’s tech‑driven battles are to historic sites.
