KYIV, Ukraine- A Russian drone struck the headquarters of Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) in central Kyiv on Friday, September 4, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, as Moscow continued a wave of attacks on the Ukrainian capital.
Zelenskyy said the drone hit the SBU’s central building on Volodymyrska Street, opposite the historic St Sophia Cathedral, and was aimed directly at the office of the agency’s head.
The attack caused heavy black smoke to rise over central Kyiv and prompted emergency crews to respond to the scene. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko initially reported five people injured, while later Ukrainian authorities put the number of wounded at 12.
Zelenskyy said he had spoken with acting SBU chief Oleksandr Poklad following the strike and ordered the agency to prepare a response.
“I instructed Poklad to deliver an appropriate, tangible response and, where possible, one that mirrors this strike,” Zelenskyy said, adding that Ukraine’s military would support the operation.
The SBU is Ukraine’s main domestic intelligence and security agency and has played a prominent role in the war, including operations targeting Russian military and energy infrastructure.
The strike came amid an intensification of Russian drone attacks on Kyiv.
According to reports, the capital has faced attacks during both daytime and nighttime, disrupting transport, businesses and daily life.
The attack also came as the United States prepared to send special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Moscow and Kyiv in renewed efforts to revive negotiations aimed at ending the war.
The timing has raised concerns about the security environment surrounding the diplomatic mission.
Friday’s strike was unusual because it directly damaged a major Ukrainian government and intelligence facility in the heart of Kyiv.
The SBU headquarters is located close to St Sophia Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
