Russian drone strike on Ukraine’s security services HQ is a ‘major escalation’, says Ukraine’s foreign minister – as it happened

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1d agoRussian drone strikes Ukraine's SBU security services HQ, Zelenskyy says, as he orders retaliation

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has just reported a Russian drone hit the headquarter of the Security Service of Ukraine, SBU, in central Kyiv.

In a post on X, he said:

“I spoke with the Head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Oleksandr Poklad. Unfortunately, a Russian drone struck the central building of the Security Service of Ukraine on Volodymyrska Street in Kyiv, across from St. Sophia Cathedral.

All emergency services are on the scene. Everyone affected will receive the necessary assistance.

The drone was aimed directly at the office of the Head of the Security Service in that building.

I instructed Poklad to deliver an appropriate, tangible response and, where possible, one that mirrors this strike, to the Russians once everything is ready. Our military will support this response. Glory to Ukraine!”

Kyiv mayor Vitaly Klitschko said that five people were injured in the attack.

Key events

1d ago

Closing summary

1d ago

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First pictures from site of Russian attack on Ukraine's security services HQ

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12 people injured, two seriously, in attack on Ukraine's security services HQ, Kyiv mayor says

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Ukraine sets target for retaliation after strikes on security services HQ in Kyiv

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Russian strike in Kyiv 'an unacceptable escalation,' Spanish minister says

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Nine people injured in Russian attack on Ukraine's security services HQ

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Russian attack on Ukraine's secret service HQ 'a major escalation,' Ukraine's foreign minister says

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Russian drone strikes Ukraine's SBU security services HQ, Zelenskyy says, as he orders retaliation

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Serbians targeted with spyware in country’s ‘largest documented wave of surveillance’

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Closing summary

Jakub Krupa

And, on that note, we will be closing the blog for today.

A Russian jet-powered drone hit the Kyiv headquarters of Ukraine’s security services, leaving at least 12 people injured, including two seriously (15:17, 17:13, 17:20).

Ukraine’s leaders condemned the attack as a “major escalation” (16:02) with president Zelenskyy instructing services to retaliate with “an appropriate, tangible response … that mirrors this strike” (15:17, 17:09).

The attack took place just as the new Spanish ambassador to Kyiv, Adela Díaz Bernárdez was presenting her credentials to president Zelenskyy, Spain’s foreign minister José Manuel Albares said (16:17, 16:29).

In other news,

A British man – identified by local media as controversial manosphere influencer Andrew Tate – was formally indicted by Romanian authorities on Friday for a number of alleged crimes (10:38, 11:34).

Giorgia Meloni is celebrating her government becoming the longest-serving since the history of the Italian Republic, despite growing pressure from a new emerging far-right rival(11:52).

Germany’s interior ⁠minister Alexander Dobrindt said that ⁠sabotage ​attacks this week were likely ⁠down to climate extremism (17:43),as the country braces for state elections in Saxony-Anhalt where the far-right Alternative für Deutschland could take power (12:57).

It emerged that at least 14 people from across Serbian civil society were targeted with advanced spyware earlier this year in what a digital right group said was the largest documented ​wave of such infection in Serbia to date (13:44).

The revelation comes as Serbia prepares for a commemoration and funeral of Bosnian Serb war criminal Ratko Mladić this weekend, despite repeated warnings from the EU that “glorification surrounding his death” was not in line with EU values (13:14).

If you have any tips, comments or suggestions, email me at jakub.krupa@theguardian.com.

I am also on Bluesky at @jakubkrupa.bsky.social and on X at @jakubkrupa.

Germany blames 'climate extremism' for attampted sabotage on electricity grid

In other news, Germany’s interior ⁠minister Alexander Dobrindt said that ⁠sabotage ​attacks this week were likely ⁠down to climate extremism.

Speaking alongside ⁠him, North ​Rhine-Westphalia ‌state interior minister ‌Herbert Reul said ‌authorities were searching for a 48-year-old man who had allegedly written ‌a letter claiming responsibility.

While they were ​speaking, the Bild newspaper reported that evidence had ⁠been found of ​new ​planned attacks ​on the electricity ​grid ‌in the ​state ​of Saxony.

First pictures from site of Russian attack on Ukraine's security services HQ

We are now getting first pictures from Kyiv showing the site of the attack.

Onlookers watch as Ukrainian rescue personnel work to extinguish a fire in the headquarters of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) following an air attack in Kyiv. Photograph: Maryke Vermaak/AFP/Getty ImagesA Russian missile attack in Kyiv near St. Sofia's Cathedral. Photograph: Mark Edward Harris/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock12 people injured, two seriously, in attack on Ukraine's security services HQ, Kyiv mayor says

Kyiv mayor Vitaly Klitschko said the number of people injured in the attack has gone up to 12.

Nine people required hospitalisation, and two are in serious condition, he said.

Ukraine sets target for retaliation after strikes on security services HQ in Kyiv

Looks like the Ukrainian authorities are already well advanced in their planning as to how retaliate against Russia for today’s strike at the security services HQ in Kyiv.

In the latest update just now, president Zelenskyy said he spoke with the SBU’s chief Oleksandr Poklad, the likely target of the Russian strike, and that “the geography of our response has been determined.”

“The timing will be chosen to ensure results. Glory to Ukraine!”

Ah, a follow-up social media post from Spain’s Albares makes it perfectly clear why he is commenting on the attack.

“It happened during the presentation of credentials of the Spanish ambassador to [president Zelenskyy],” he said in a post on X.

“All my support to the ambassador and to the team of [the Spanish embassy in Kyiv] who are doing great work under very difficult conditions. Diplomacy and the rule of law are stronger than aggression.”

Russian strike in Kyiv 'an unacceptable escalation,' Spanish minister says

Spanish foreign minister José Manuel Albares is among the first European leaders to condemn the Russian strike.

In a statement, he calls it “an unacceptable escalation” that risks harming “civilians, heritage and peace.”

Here it is in full:

“I strongly condemn the Russian attack on the Security Service headquarters in Kyiv, near St. Sophia Cathedral – a Unesco world heritage site.

This attack is an unacceptable escalation. It targets civilians, heritage, and peace.”

Nine people injured in Russian attack on Ukraine's security services HQ

The number of people injured in the attack has gone up to nine, Kyiv authorities said.

Russian attack on Ukraine's secret service HQ 'a major escalation,' Ukraine's foreign minister says

Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha has warned that the Russian attack on Ukraine’s Security Service HQ is “a major escalation that demands absolute responses.”

In a statement, he said:

“Moscow launched this strike during a renewed push for peace – laying bare its true rejection of diplomacy. Located nearby, the Unesco world heritage site – St. Sophia Cathedral – was also placed at risk.

We call on international partners to unequivocally condemn these actions and step up pressure on the Putin regime. We also urge Unesco to react decisively and increase its efforts to protect endangered heritage in Ukraine.”

Kyiv authorities said the number of people injured in the attack has risen to seven.

Russian drone strikes Ukraine's SBU security services HQ, Zelenskyy says, as he orders retaliation

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has just reported a Russian drone hit the headquarter of the Security Service of Ukraine, SBU, in central Kyiv.

In a post on X, he said:

“I spoke with the Head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Oleksandr Poklad. Unfortunately, a Russian drone struck the central building of the Security Service of Ukraine on Volodymyrska Street in Kyiv, across from St. Sophia Cathedral.

All emergency services are on the scene. Everyone affected will receive the necessary assistance.

The drone was aimed directly at the office of the Head of the Security Service in that building.

I instructed Poklad to deliver an appropriate, tangible response and, where possible, one that mirrors this strike, to the Russians once everything is ready. Our military will support this response. Glory to Ukraine!”

Kyiv mayor Vitaly Klitschko said that five people were injured in the attack.

Some more comments from the EU’s enlargement commissioner Marta Kos on Ratko Mladić and his planned funeral in Serbia (see earlier post at 12:14).

She said the next few days “will be a very important test”, with the convicted war criminal’s funeral expected to take place on Monday while a military commemoration ceremony is planned for tomorrow.

Speaking to reporters at the informal meeting of European affairs ministers in Dublin, Ireland, she said the handling of Mladić’s funeral would be taken into account when assessing Serbia’s alignment with the EU’s foreign and security policy, a key requirement for EU membership.

The government plane carrying the body of Bosnian Serb Ratko Mladic, former general convicted of Bosnia genocide, lands in Belgrade, Serbia, on Thursday. Photograph: Zorana Jevtić/ReutersBardella vows to stop France being a ‘gateway’ for small boats to UK

In the UK, Jordan Bardella, the president of the French far-right, anti-immigration National Rally and member of the European Parliament, is at the Reform UK conference, where he has delivered a speech.

Jordan Bardella, president of National Rally, speaks during the Reform UK’s annual conference at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham.

Photograph: Thomas Krych/APHe said that if his party wins the next French general election, France will no longer be a route for migrants seeking to reach the UK, a remark that was met with rapturous applause.

“Dear friends here in Birmingham, I make you this promise. If the French people bring us to power in 2027 in a few months, with the Rassemblement National [National Rally] and Marine le Pen, our government will do everything in its power to ensure that France is no longer the gateway for illegal migration into the United Kingdom,” he said.

My colleague Andrew Sparrow has more on Bardella’s speech:

There is laughter in the room as Jordan Bardella describes the historical relationship between France and its neighbour as “turbulent”, which is somewhat the understatement. He describes, however, “a true friendship” between the two peoples at the most decisive moment of history, which draws warm applause.

For more updates, follow our UK politics blog here:

Serbians targeted with spyware in country’s ‘largest documented wave of surveillance’

Aisha Down

Global technology reporter

Meanwhile, it emerged that at least 14 people from across Serbian civil society were targeted with advanced spyware earlier this year in what the digital rights group Share Foundation said was the largest documented ​wave of such infection in Serbia to date.

A student protest movement has been raging in opposition to Aleksandar Vučić’s government since 2024. Photograph: Darko Vojinović/APThe wave of spyware infections was discovered in August after Apple notified people in 110 ⁠countries that they had probably been victims ⁠of mercenary spyware.

The Citizen Lab, which carries out forensic analyses of spyware attacks, released an analysis on Wednesday showing that at least one of the Serbians had been targeted with the NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware, which would have given the attacker “total access to the device”.

Share said those targeted included members of a Serbian student movement that has been a thorn in the side of the government of Aleksandar Vučić since 2024. Coalescing out of countrywide protests that followed the collapse of a train station that winter, it is one of the largest student movements in Europe.

Vučić has been in power for more than a decade, during which time critics have said he has overseen a hollowing-out of institutions while steering the country closer to Moscow.

There is no evidence that Vučić’s government was the entity that targeted the student with the Pegasus spyware. However, other spyware used against the students, including a software called NoviSpy, has been previously connected to Serbian authorities.

EU enlargement commissioner calls off Serbia visit over Mladić's 'glorification'

EU’s enlargement commissioner Marta Kos has called off her planned visit to Serbia in protest at what she called “the glorification surrounding the death” of Bosnian Serb war criminal Ratko Mladić.

A banner reading “Ratko Mladić, Serbian Hero” is displayed on a footbridge over a motorway as a convoy carrying the body of Bosnian Serb war criminal Ratko Mladić passes through Belgrade, Serbia. Photograph: Pedja Milosavljevic/AFP/Getty ImagesMladić, who died last week while serving a life sentence for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity during the 1992-1995 Bosnian war, will be commemorated at a public event in Belgrade on Saturday afternoon before his burial on Monday.

Upon landing in Belgrade last night, Mladić’s coffin was wrapped in the national flag and Serbian army soldiers carried his body from the plane to a van for transport to the military hospital, AP reported.

In a strongly worded statement, Kos, a Slovenian diplomat and politician, said:

“Ratko Mladić was convicted of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The return of his remains to Belgrade reminds Europe of the darkest pages in our recent history.

The glorification surrounding his death is incompatible with the values on which the EU path is built. That path requires confronting the past, genuine reconciliation and respecting the victims of war crimes.

The values that underpin our common future are not negotiable. In this context, I have decided not to proceed with my planned visit to Serbia at this time.”