Russian drone hits Ukraine's National Security Service headquarters, Zelensky says it is directly targeting the director's office

(Central News Agency, Kyiv, comprehensive foreign news report on the 4th) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that a Russian drone hit the headquarters of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in Kiev today, and accused Moscow of directly targeting the office of the director of the National Security Service.

Zelensky said he had instructed the National Security Agency to respond "appropriately and substantively"; Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga called the move a "major escalation."

In recent months, both Russia and Ukraine have stepped up their long-range attacks.

Ukrainian officials pointed out that U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to travel to Moscow this weekend for peace talks with Kiev.

Zelensky posted on Telegram: "Unfortunately, a Russian drone hit the central building of the National Security Service in Kiev, which is opposite St. Sophia Cathedral. The drone was directly aimed at the office of the director of the National Security Service in the building."

This is the first time that the headquarters of this powerful security agency has been attacked since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

A senior Ukrainian official told AFP on condition of anonymity that the acting director of the National Security Agency, Oleksandr Poklad, was not in the building at the time.

Russia has yet to respond.

Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko said at least 12 people were injured, but did not say whether the injured were inside the National Security Agency building.

A statement from Ukraine's National Security Service noted that Pokraad was not injured and said the building "will definitely be repaired."