A Russian drone struck the headquarters of Ukraine’s SBU security service in Kyiv on Friday, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said, as Moscow continued a 10 day campaign of near constant air attacks on the Ukrainian capital.
Zelenskiy vowed retaliation, saying the drone had been aimed directly at the office of the head of the Security Service. It was not immediately clear whether any SBU personnel were among those injured.
At least seven people were injured in the attack, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. Heavy black smoke rose over the city centre as emergency crews and ambulances rushed to the scene.
The strike occurred in the historic centre of Kyiv, near Saint Sophia Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site. A nearby bakery, Zavertailo, was also destroyed, according to its owner.
Zelenskiy said he had ordered an “appropriate, tangible response” and indicated that Ukraine could seek to mirror the attack against Russian targets once preparations were complete.
Government buildings in Ukraine have rarely been damaged in Russian drone and missile attacks during the war, making the strike on the SBU headquarters a significant escalation.
Kyiv has faced sustained Russian drone attacks for 10 consecutive days. A university in the city centre was also hit on Wednesday, highlighting the growing impact of the campaign on the capital.
The SBU plays a central role in Ukraine’s military operations against Russia and has carried out a series of high profile operations targeting Russian military infrastructure.
The agency has been linked to operations including the 2022 bombing of a bridge connecting Russia with occupied Crimea and the 2025 “Spiderweb” drone operation, which targeted Russian strategic bombers.
The SBU has also been widely associated with covert operations against senior Russian military and other figures whom Ukraine accuses of involvement in war crimes. Russia has condemned such killings as terrorist attacks.
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