Slovakia has summoned Russia's ambassador after a Russian jet-propelled drone struck the headquarters of Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) in Kyiv, a building that sits close to the consular section of Slovakia's embassy in the Ukrainian capital.
Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar announced the move in a statement posted on the Facebook page of Slovakia's Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.
The ministry said it firmly condemned the attack, noting that the SBU building targeted by the drone is located not far from the consular section of the Slovak embassy in Kyiv.
Consular section scaled back
Blanar said that for security reasons, the consular section in the Ukrainian capital is currently operating on a limited basis. He added that no one was present there at the time of the attack.
He called on Russia to refrain from actions that could endanger the lives and safety of innocent civilians, while also urging both sides to avoid further escalation that heightens tension and does not help bring about a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
Blanar said he had instructed officials to summon the Russian ambassador to Slovakia.
What is known about the strike on the SBU
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said a Russian drone hit the SBU building in central Kyiv, striking the office of SBU chief Oleksandr Poklad. Zelensky said he had instructed Poklad to prepare an adequate, tangible and, where possible, mirrored response to the strike once everything is ready.
Serhiy "Flash" Beskrestnov, an adviser to the Ukrainian president on defence technology development, suggested that the Shahed drone may have been guided to the SBU building by a Russian agent operating nearby, calling it a specially planned operation. He said the drone was controlled and guided online through a mesh radio relay with internet access, which the agent switched on for a short period within about 5 kilometres of the site during the attack.
