Russia has struck the headquarters of Ukraine’s SBU intelligence agency in central Kyiv, sending thick black smoke over the capital in a rare daylight attack on a key government building. At least nine people were injured, according to Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the drone was aimed directly at the SBU chief’s office and ordered an “appropriate, tangible response”. A direct hit in the heart of Kyiv The streets around the SBU headquarters on Volodymyrska Street were rapidly sealed off as armed officers, ambulances and emergency crews flooded the area. The building stands opposite St Sophia Cathedral, a Unesco World Heritage site. The explosion was heard several blocks away, while nearby businesses suffered damage, including shattered windows. Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine’s foreign minister, called the attack a “major escalation” and demanded a stronger international response against Moscow. Civilians caught in the blast At a nearby café, a customer was injured while eating when the blast sent shockwaves through the building. Staff and customers rushed underground, fearing Russia could launch a second strike against emergency responders. The feared follow-up attack did not come, but anxiety remained high as residents braced for another assault. Kyiv has endured daily Russian drone and missile attacks for more than a week, with Ukraine facing a critical shortage of US-made Patriot interceptors. New jet-powered drones capable of reaching around 250mph are also making incoming attacks harder to stop. Strike lands as diplomacy hangs by a thread The timing adds another layer of pressure. The strike came just two days before US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were expected to visit Kyiv as part of stalled efforts to end Russia’s four-and-a-half-year invasion. The SBU has played a central role in Ukraine’s covert campaign against Russia, including Operation Spiderweb, which destroyed valuable Russian aircraft last year. Now Moscow has demonstrated its ability to strike the agency’s headquarters in central Kyiv — raising fresh questions over the capital’s air defences and setting the stage for a potentially forceful Ukrainian retaliation. Russia strikes Ukraine intelligence HQ in ‘major escalation’ | Ukraine | The Guardian
