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Russian Drone Strikes Office of Ukraine’s Intelligence Chief
Confirmed
In Short: A Russian drone targeted the central headquarters of Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) in Kyiv, specifically aiming at the office of SBU chief Oleksandr Poklad.
A Russian drone struck the central building of Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) on Volodymyrska Street in central Kyiv, opposite St. Sophia Cathedral, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. The attack was aimed at the office of SBU chief Oleksandr Poklad, as Zelensky reported.
This incident is part of a sustained wave of Russian drone attacks on Kyiv, highlighting the ongoing threat faced by Ukraine’s intelligence services. Following the briefing from SBU chief Poklad, Ukraine has defined target locations for retaliatory strikes.
Ukraine has made significant progress in domestically producing drones, with some 95 percent of its current drone fleet now assembled within the country. This development has reduced its reliance on foreign systems and intelligence, though it still depends on American interceptors for missile defense.
The strike on the SBU headquarters underscores the evolving nature of the conflict, with Russia increasingly using drones to target key infrastructure and personnel in Ukraine’s capital.
Background
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest country in Europe after Russia, which borders it to the east and northeast.
What's confirmed
What's still developing
- This reality, which began to take hold in 2024, has accelerated Ukraine’s transition from foreign-supplied to domestically produced weapons: some 95 percent of drones are now assembled inside the country.
- Moreover, although Ukraine remains heavily reliant on its scarce supply of American interceptors to defend against ballistic missile attacks, it is far less dependent on foreign systems and intelligence than it was at the start of the war.
- "It's not clear if the US is willing to place pressure, more pressure on Russia," she said, citing confusion over a Russian sanctions bill currently on an uncertain course in the US Congress and uncertainty over potential licensing of the production of Patriot missiles to Ukraine.
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he has told SBU to deliver ‘appropriate, tangible response’ to Kyiv strike Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he has told SBU to deliver ‘appropriate, tangible response’ to Kyiv strike The head office of Ukraine’s SBU intelligence agency has been hit in a Russian drone attack, sending plumes of black smoke rising into the air in the heart of Kyiv.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that "today it has been clearly determined that American representatives will be in Ukraine and in Russia in the coming days" and he called for a pause in air strikes by both sides to facilitate any meetings.
- Zelenskyy on Friday called for Russia to halt its attacks during a visit of US negotiators, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, to the city on Sunday and said Ukraine would guarantee the safety of Russian airspace while they were in Moscow.
- The nationalist said he was detained by the SBU Security Service and obliged to sign a confession that he collaborated with Russian intelligence. He later retracted the statement.
- He said in a Telegram post that Ukraine will refrain from airstrikes during the negotiations and called on Russia to reciprocate to allow the talks to proceed safely.