Russia hits Ukrainian intelligence headquarters in significant escalation

A Russian drone strike hit the central headquarters of Ukraine’s SBU intelligence agency in central Kyiv, producing thick black smoke over the city.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he ordered the SBU to deliver an “appropriate, tangible response,” while foreign minister Andrii Sybiha called the strike a “major escalation.”

Shortly after the impact, streets around the building were cordoned off and armed officers patrolled the area. Ambulances and emergency vehicles were positioned nearby. The SBU headquarters is located on Volodymyrska Street, across from St Sophia Cathedral, a UNESCO world heritage site.

Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram: “Unfortunately, a Russian drone hit the central building of the SBU on Volodymyrska Street in Kyiv, opposite the St Sophia Cathedral. The drone was aimed directly at the office of the Head of the Security Service in that building.”

Kyiv has faced daily Russian drone and missile attacks for more than a week. Ukraine is experiencing a significant shortage of US-made Patriot interceptors capable of shooting down incoming threats. Many recent strikes have involved new-model jet-powered drones traveling at speeds of around 250mph, which are difficult to intercept.

Russian strikes rarely reach government buildings in central Kyiv, particularly during daylight hours. The explosion was audible several blocks away.

The incident is expected to deepen the ongoing exchanges of attacks between Moscow and Kyiv, which in recent weeks have aimed to undermine each other’s resilience and morale. It also raises concerns about Kyiv’s capacity to defend critical infrastructure.

Sybiha described the attack as “a major escalation that demands resolute responses” and urged international partners to “unequivocally condemn these actions and step up pressure on the Putin regime.”

Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said at least nine people were injured in the strike.

Stanislav Zavertailo, co-owner of a nearby cafe, said one of his customers was hurt when shockwaves shattered the windows. “It’s a normal cafe,” he said, adding that the customer was “eating one of our famous poppy seed rolls” at the time.

Staff and customers moved into an underground shelter, fearing a double-tap attack, a tactic Russia has used in which a second drone follows the first to target emergency responders. No second strike occurred within the next hour, though Zavertailo said unease persisted: “We are all waiting for another attack.”

The SBU coordinates complex operations against Russia, including last year’s Operation Spiderweb, which destroyed billions of dollars’ worth of aircraft inside Russian territory.

A cafe employee who had just left the shelter described the strike as “awful,” saying that “as a person who lives in Ukraine for all this time, it’s just hard.”

The attack took place two days before US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were expected to arrive in Kyiv for the first time. US-led efforts to end Russia’s four-and-a-half-year invasion have stalled in recent months as attention has shifted toward the conflict involving Iran.