On 4 September, a Russian drone struck the main building of the Security Service of Ukraine in Kyiv. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the drone was aimed directly at the office of the acting head of the SBU, Oleksandr Poklad. A fire broke out following the strike, and one person was hospitalised. The President instructed the Service to prepare a response to Russia.
Briefly about the main points
- A Russian drone struck the SBU’s main building in the capital.
- Zelenskyy described Oleksandr Poklad’s office as the stated target of the attack.
- The head of the SBU was unharmed; one person was taken to hospital.
- A fire broke out following the impact, and the emergency services are dealing with the aftermath.
- The SBU is preparing a response which the President has described as substantial and reciprocal.
An explosion in the centre of Kyiv and the work of the emergency services
At around 15:30, a loud explosion was heard in the city centre, and thick smoke rose above the area. At first, the Mayor of Kyiv Vitali Klitschko reported a fire on the roof of a non-residential building in the Shevchenkivskyi district following a drone attack.
The emergency services arrived at the scene and began to deal with the aftermath. According to the city authorities, the injured person has been taken to hospital. The extent of the damage to the building is still being assessed.
The President spoke with the head of the SBU following the attack
Zelensky reported that, following the attack, he spoke with Deposit. According to him, an analysis of the circumstances of the attack suggests that the drone was deliberately targeted at the head of the Service’s office. Poklad was unharmed.
Oleksandr Poklad has been acting head of the SBU since July 2026. The President signed the relevant decree on 17 July; prior to this, Poklad had served as First Deputy Head of the Service.
The SBU must prepare a response to Russia
The President instructed the head of the SBU to draw up a separate response to the attack. He said that the response should be «proportionate, significant and, where possible, reciprocal».
Zelenskyy noted that the measures would be implemented once preparations were complete, and that the Ukrainian military would support them.
Attacks on the capital have intensified in recent days
Over the last few days, Russia has stepped up attacks on Kyiv using drones, including jet-powered ones. According to the Associated Press, the capital is coming under Russian attack not only at night but also during the day.
The day before, on 3 September, a Russian attack in the city damaged residential buildings and other facilities, and people were injured. Reuters reported that at least ten people had been wounded. The Ukrainian authorities explicitly stated that the attack was directed at the leadership of the SBU.
