Slovakia Summons Russian Ambassador
Slovakia summons the Russian ambassador after a drone strike hits near its Kyiv consulate.
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Key Points
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The strike injured at least 12 people, according to one report, while another Ukrainian account put the number of injured at at least 15. Ukraine said the acting head of the Security Service, Oleksandr Poklad, was the apparent target but was unharmed.
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Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry described the attack as a serious escalation and evidence that Moscow was rejecting diplomacy, while the Security Service warned that its response would be painful for Russia.
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The drone struck the SSU’s central building on Volodymyrska Street, opposite St. Sophia Cathedral and near the Zoloti Vorota metro station; a fire broke out at the scene.
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The weapon was described as a jet-powered Geran drone. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said it had been directed specifically at the SSU chief’s office, while Ukrainian authorities also reported that a Russian agent may have guided the drone remotely from the scene.
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The diplomatic dispute comes amid particularly strained Slovak-Ukrainian relations: Prime Minister Robert Fico has called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy an “enemy” of Slovakia, while Kyiv has accused Fico of acting as a “mouthpiece” for the Kremlin.
Russia struck Ukraine's Security Service headquarters in central Kyiv with a jet-powered Geran drone, injuring at least 12 people and igniting a fire near St. Sophia Cathedral. Slovakia responded by summoning Russia's ambassador for an explanation—an unusually forceful move for Prime Minister Robert Fico's government, which has traditionally sided with Moscow on the war.
The attack targeted the SSU chief's office directly, according to Ukrainian officials, though the acting head, Oleksandr Poklad, was unharmed. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry called it a serious escalation and rejection of diplomacy, while Slovakia's Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár noted that his country's consular section—located nearby—was closed for security and had no staff inside.
Slovakia Breaks From Its Russia-Friendly Stance
Slovakia's decision to summon Russia's ambassador marks a sharp departure from Prime Minister Fico's typically restrained approach to the war. Fico has previously called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy an "enemy" of Slovakia and has positioned himself as Moscow's closest European ally. Foreign Minister Blanár urged Russia to stop endangering civilians and called on both sides to pursue peace—language notably stronger than Fico's usual diplomatic neutrality.
The Drone Strike Targeted the Security Service Chief
A Geran drone struck the SSU's central building on Volodymyrska Street in downtown Kyiv, opposite St. Sophia Cathedral. Zelenskyy said the weapon was directed specifically at the Security Service chief's office, and Ukrainian authorities reported that a Russian agent may have guided the drone remotely from the scene. At least 12 people were injured in the blast; another account put the figure at 15.
Ukraine Warns Moscow That Retaliation Will Be Severe
Ukraine's Security Service responded to the strike with a stark warning: its response would be "painful" for Russia. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry described the attack as evidence that Moscow was rejecting peace talks and escalating the conflict. The incident adds to mounting tensions between Kyiv and Bratislava, with Ukraine accusing Fico of serving as a "mouthpiece" for the Kremlin.
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