What drone Russia used to hit SBU building in Kyiv? Expert reveals details
Ukrainian rescuers put out a fire at the SBU headquarters after Russia's attack on Kyiv on September 4, 2026 (photo: Getty Images)
Ukrainian specialists examined the Russian drone's wreckage after the attack on the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) building in Kyiv on September 4. Their analysis identified the type of drone, while surveillance data helped trace its flight path to the capital, according to Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov, an adviser to the president of Ukraine on defense technology development.
"Flash" says that after the strike on the SBU, Russian social media channels began circulating claims that the strike had allegedly been staged using a small drone.
However, the presidential adviser said data from Ukrainian systems does not support that version, arguing that all of the systems tracked the jet-powered drone's route to Kyiv.
"All systems tracked the flight path of this jet-powered Shahed from the Donetsk area to Kyiv at an altitude of more than 7 kilometers," he noted.
This means, according to Beskrestnov, that Ukrainian authorities have information on the direction the drone approached from, as well as its flight path to the capital.
Wreckage helped identify type of drone
"Flash" also provided details from the examination of the drone's wreckage. Ukrainian specialists determined that the fragments came from a Geran-4 drone.
Most of the drone components were recovered, allowing specialists to determine not only its type but also its configuration.
"We have already examined the wreckage and determined that it belongs to a Geran-4, including most of its components," he said.
Two jet drones were headed for Kyiv
Beskrestnov also revealed another detail about the attack. According to him, two jet-powered drones were headed toward Kyiv as part of the operation targeting the SBU.
They flew together, but only one of them reached the capital.
"By the way, during this special operation against the SBU, two jet-powered UAVs were flying toward Kyiv as a pair. Only one made it," he said.
As previously reported, on September 4, Russian forces struck the SBU building in central Kyiv. Media reports said the Russian drone was headed directly toward the office of SBU chief Oleksandr Poklad.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called the attack a serious escalation of the war, saying it demonstrated that Moscow had completely abandoned diplomacy.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's Security Service warned Russia that retaliation was inevitable.
