The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, has denounced this Friday that Russia has launched a drone attack against the headquarters of the Security Service of Ukraine in Kiev, an event that has caused at least 15 injuries, two of them in serious condition.
In a post on social media, the leader has confirmed that a Russian drone hit the main building of the Security Service of Ukraine, "in front of St. Sophia Cathedral."
"All emergency services are on site. All those affected will receive the necessary assistance. The drone was aimed directly at the office of the head of the Security Service in that building," Zelensky has pointed out, referring to the head of the agency, Oleksandr Poklad, with whom he spoke by phone after the attack.
The Ukrainian president has announced reprisals and indicated that Poklad has been instructed to give "an appropriate and tangible response to the Russians." "As much as possible, one that replicates this attack," he added, hinting at a direct counterattack.
Moments later, Zelensky announced that he has met with the head of the Security Service of Ukraine to discuss the preparations for the "active response" to the latest Russian attacks against the center of the capital.
"The geography of our response has been determined. The timing will be chosen to ensure results," the president assured after the meeting.
The military administration of Kiev has confirmed in its official channels that the number of injured has risen to 15 people as a result of the drone impact, after the city's mayor, Vitali Klitschko, initially reported 12 injuries, two of them in critical condition.
According to Klitschko's statement, the attack triggered a fire in the building, causing the roof and part of the exterior facade of the building to collapse.
Kiev denounces a new Russian escalation in the war
In parallel, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Andri Sibiga, has warned that this attack represents a "major escalation" of the conflict and that it "demands resolute responses."
"Moscow launches this attack during a renewed push for peace, which exposes its true rejection of diplomacy," emphasized the Foreign Minister, who has urged international partners to "unequivocally condemn these actions" and to increase pressure on Moscow.
The authorities of Kiev have been warning for some time about an intensification of Russian military operations, with Moscow's declared objective of maintaining what it considers an advantageous position on the battlefield before any negotiations to end hostilities. At the same time, Ukrainian forces have increased their drone attacks in recent weeks, seeking to make the impact of the war felt more directly within Russian territory.