Russia strikes SBU headquarters in Dnipro
The Russian armed forces strike the headquarters of the Ukrainian Security Service in Dnipro, destroying it in the process.
Russia on Thursday struck the headquarters of the Ukrainian Security Services (SBU) and managed to completely destroy the building using, reportedly, a Kh-47M2 Kinzhal missile.
Clips showing the destroyed building resurfaced after Ukraine and pro-Ukrainians claimed that Russia was targeting residential buildings in the strike.
Either debris from one of the Russian missiles or, as usual, a stray Ukrainian air defence missile also crashed into a residential building in Dnepropetrovsk. pic.twitter.com/O58zLx0EnP
— Russians With Attitude (@RWApodcast) July 28, 2023
Though no official statement has come out from the Russian party about the SBU building being destroyed, social media users pointed out that videos showing what was allegedly a destroyed residential building were uncannily similar to the SBU headquarters in Dnieper.
The headquarters are situated among residential buildings, and though material damages were reported, no apparent loss of civilian life has been reported.
The Russian Ballistic Missile Strike on the City of Dnipro appears to have actually been Targeting the Headquarters of the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) in the City which was also Destroyed and is right on the other side of the High-Rise Apartment Building which was Struck. pic.twitter.com/DQh5p2IvGi
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) July 28, 2023
Despite the allegations, many quickly pointed out that the building was eerily similar to the SBU headquarters, with even the geographical position and the area as a whole matching that of the building in question.
The explosion in the above photo shows a stadium and a unique building in the foreground, with the satellite view of the area of the SBU headquarters showing a stadium and a building of that particular shape.
Russian sources are claiming the SBU building was the target. pic.twitter.com/w96cMXSgj9
— ayden (@squatsons) July 28, 2023
The aftermath of the strike showed much destruction, with ambulance crews rushing to the scene to check for any casualties.
From the scene, it is reported that the building of the SBU in Dnipro was destroyed by an Iskander missile. pic.twitter.com/Ov9ks4ZTmr
— Nothing to see (@Wagnersfamily) July 28, 2023
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later confirmed the reports, saying: "Dnieper. Friday evening. A high-rise building and the Security Service of Ukraine building was hit. Russian missile terror again."
"All necessary services are on site... We keep the situation under control. We will do everything to bring Russia to full punishment for aggression and terror against our people," he added.
The strike on the SBU headquarters comes a day after the agency, in a revelation that might not come as a surprise to many, claimed responsibility for a sabotage operation that caused significant damage to the Russian-made Kerch Bridge connecting Crimea with Russia last year.
The head of the SBU, Vasyl Malyuk, made this announcement on Wednesday during a television appearance where he was commemorating wartime special forces operations with the unveiling of a new commemorative postage stamp.
Malyuk revealed a series of operations conducted by the SBU, with some being announced only after Ukraine achieves victory in the war, though others will never see the light of day.
The cream of the crop of his announcement was the revelation that the SBU had a hand in the explosion that shook the Kerch bridge last year.
The Kerch Bridge spans 19 kilometers (12 miles) across the Kerch Strait. It serves as the sole direct link between Russia's transportation network and Crimea. The bridge's construction was a prestigious project for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who personally inaugurated it with great fanfare in 2018 by driving a truck across its length.
The explosion that occurred in October severely damaged the bridge, and Russian authorities initially attributed it to a truck explosion while crossing, which tragically claimed the lives of three people. However, Ukraine's recent revelation points to a deliberate act of sabotage as the cause behind the destruction.
Just this month, the bridge suffered another attack, but Malyuk refrained from commenting on the perpetrators of this latest incident.
Two people were killed and a child was injured in an "emergency" incident that took place on the Crimean Bridge, while traffic was halted awaiting damage repairs.
Anonymous sources told AFP that the Ukrainian domestic security agency and navy were behind the incident at the Crimean Bridge.