A Russian drone attacked the headquarters of Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) in Kyiv on September 4, 2026, according to reports from Spiegel and T-Online, as the drone targeted the office of SBU chief Olexander Poklad, as confirmed by President Volodymyr Zelensky in a Telegram post. The attack caused damage to the building and injured at least 12 people, according to later updates from the city administration.

Symmetrical Response Ordered by Zelensky

Zelensky instructed Poklad to respond “spiegelbildlich,” or symmetrically, to the attack, as reported by Spiegel and T-Online. The SBU confirmed the damage and pledged to launch retaliatory operations, including exposing Russian agent networks and destroying enemy assets. The attack was described as a “major escalation” by Foreign Minister Andrij Sybiha, who also called on UNESCO to increase efforts to protect Ukraine’s cultural heritage, which was partially damaged in the incident.

Ukraine Seeks International Support for Airspace Restrictions

Ukraine has formally requested the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to ban commercial flights over Russian airspace, according to Aviacionline. The move comes amid increased drone and missile activity over Russian territory, which has led to airport closures and flight cancellations. Ukraine’s Infrastructure Minister Mykola Kalashnyk emphasized the need to prevent aviation tragedies, while President Zelensky warned that flying over Russian airspace is “completely unsafe.” European and U.S. airlines have avoided the region since 2022, but carriers from China, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates continue to operate there.

Other Measures Against Russian Assets

In related actions, Norway has detained a Russian government-owned cruise ship in Svalbard under international arbitration rulings, according to Yonhap. The ship, the Professor Molchanov, was seized following a 2023 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) requiring Russia to pay $4.22 billion in compensation for seizing Ukrainian energy assets. Similar measures have been taken by Finland and France. These actions are part of broader international efforts to hold Russia accountable for its actions in the war.

Zelensky also proposed a temporary ceasefire during the upcoming visit of U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Moscow and Kyiv, as reported by T-Online. He said Ukraine would halt air attacks during the period of negotiations, provided Russia reciprocated with its own ceasefire. The Russian government has not yet confirmed the visit.