Russia hits Ukrainian security headquarters in drone attack, Zelensky says

ByDan Sales and James Landale, Diplomatic correspondent.

Key points

• As efforts to end the war continue, despite the ongoing exchanges, US mediators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will visit Russia and Ukraine this weekend, reports say.
• "The drone was aimed directly at the office of the Head of the Security Service in that building, " Zelensky confirmed.
• The Russian defence ministry additionally stated on Friday it had struck a cargo vessel in the Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk and a tanker near Odesa.
• Witkoff and Kushner have led US President Donald Trump's efforts to broker a peace accord, without a breakthrough so far.
• The unmanned aerial vehicle crashed into the SBU headquarters on Friday afternoon, targeting a room applied by security chief Oleksandr Poklad.

Notably, a Russian drone has hit the headquarters of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) during a strike in the heart of Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has remarked.

Meanwhile, the unmanned aerial vehicle crashed into the SBU headquarters on Friday afternoon, targeting a room applied by security chief Oleksandr Poklad.

It is not clear whether Poklad was in the building, but Zelensky remarked he had since spoken to him to order an "appropriate, tangible response".

"The drone was aimed directly at the office of the Head of the Security Service in that building, " Zelensky confirmed. It suggests Russia's new drones are growing in accuracy and signals Moscow could step up strikes before feasible US mediation negotiations this weekend.

Trump's peace envoys to visit Moscow and Kyiv over weekend, reports say.

"All emergency services are on the scene. Everyone affected will receive the necessary assistance, " Zelensky continued in a message on Telegram.

"I instructed Poklad to deliver an appropriate, tangible response and, where feasible, one that mirrors this strike, to the Russians once everything is ready. Our military will backing this response."

Images of the office widely shared online indicated black smoke pouring from two windows on the front of the building.

Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha remarked the attack was a "major escalation that demands resolute responses".

"Moscow launched this strike during a renewed push for peace – laying bare its true rejection of diplomacy, " he continued.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko remarked five residents had been hurt in the SBU attack, but did not elaborate on whether they were inside the offices.

In practice, the Russian defence ministry additionally stated on Friday it had struck a cargo vessel in the Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk and a tanker near Odesa.

In recent weeks Russia has escalated its daytime strikes on Ukrainian targets.

In plenty of instances it has employed jet-powered drones which are faster and harder to intercept. It is not yet known which type of munition was applied in this latest attack.

For context, the strike on the SBU building is a rare example of Russia successfully hitting a administration building.

Previously Ukrainian offices have remained unscathed despite attempts from the Kremlin to stifle defences to its advances.

For context, the SBU – which is just over the road from the St Sophia cathedral, the oldest building in Kyiv – is a key part of Ukraine's war efforts as it conducts deep strikes to damage Russian infrastructure.

In practice, the drone came during yet another air raid alert. There was a brief whine before an explosion echoed throughout the roof tops and smoke rose into the sky.

In practice, the envoys will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday in Moscow, and then will hold discussions with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday in Kyiv, Axios stated, citing US authorities.

In short, russia hits Ukrainian security headquarters in drone attack, Zelensky says is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.