Russian drone strikes Ukraine security service headquarters as US talks on the war are expected

A Russian drone has struck Ukraine’s domestic intelligence headquarters in central Kyiv, injuring five people. KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A Russian drone struck the headquarters of Ukraine’s security service in central Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday, ahead of diplomatic talks with U.S. officials on ending the war.The air war between Russia and Ukraine has intensified as the conflict stretches toward five years since Moscow’s invasion of its neighbor.Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram that he had spoken with acting security chief Oleksandr Poklad following the strike.

The security service headquarters, located close to the historic St. Sophia Cathedral and international hotels, is among the agencies carrying out deep strike operations inside Russian territory. Twelve people were wounded in the attack, local authorities said.“The drone was deliberately targeted at the head of the SBU’s office in that building.

I instructed Poklad to respond appropriately, significantly, and, if possible, in kind to the Russians for this attack,” Zelenskyy said.Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called the strike a “major escalation” that came as potential peace talks were building momentum, in a post on X.“Moscow launched this strike during a renewed push for peace — laying bare its true rejection of diplomacy,” he said.US envoys expected in Moscow and KyivThe strike came as a U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will travel to Moscow and then to Kyiv over the weekend and into early next week. The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, did not have more specific timing for the stops.Zelenskyy said Thursday he was expecting U.S.

envoys in Kyiv in the coming days as part of renewed diplomatic efforts to end the war.Though U.S. efforts to negotiate a settlement have yet to produce a path to peace, in his nightly address Thursday Zelenskyy said that preliminary dates have been set for meetings in both Moscow and Kyiv. Ukraine’s negotiating team is in near-constant contact with the U.S.

side and preparing for talks, he said.“They confirmed they will have a meeting in Moscow and another one in Kyiv. We expect the latter to take place in the coming days. It is important that America remain actively engaged,” he said, adding that Ukraine is ready for substantive, high-level negotiations.Russian state news agency Tass reported Friday that Witkoff and Kushner would visit Mo…