Russian drone strikes Kyiv security headquarters, Zelenskyy vows response

A Russian drone struck the headquarters of Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) in central Kyiv on Friday afternoon, targeting the office of its head, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed. He ordered a tangible, mirroring response. The drone hit the SBU building on Volodymyrska Street, opposite St Sophia Cathedral, during an air-raid alert. Emergency services responded, with no immediate casualty reports. Zelenskyy instructed SBU chief Oleksandr Poklad to prepare a retaliatory strike with military support. The attack occurred amid intensified Russian daytime drone campaigns on Kyiv in recent days, disrupting daily life. Witnesses reported an explosion around 3:30 pm local time, with smoke rising near the Golden Gate historic area.