Poland’s Foreign Minister, Radosław Sikorski, reported that the consular section of the Polish Embassy in Kyiv sustained damage during a large-scale Russian air assault on the Ukrainian capital. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among embassy staff.
According to Ukrainian local authorities, at least 23 people were injured in the overnight strikes, which also caused damage to railway infrastructure and residential buildings.
Minister Sikorski, writing on social media platform X, confirmed the damage, describing the incident as a result of a “massive, Ruscist attack” on the city. He added that he had spoken with the Polish ambassador to Ukraine, Piotr Łukasiewicz, who assured him that all embassy personnel were safe and unharmed.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Paweł Wroński provided further details, stating that embassy staff were in a shelter when they felt a strong shockwave shortly after midnight.
It is believed that a drone exploded above the consular building—whether due to malfunction or being shot down remains unclear. Debris from the drone struck the embassy’s roof and façade, causing superficial damage but sparing the structure from major harm.
Wroński noted that staff are increasingly fatigued due to the now-frequent night-time air raid alerts.
“Kyiv is under constant attack from Russian drones and missiles,” he said, adding that embassy personnel have been forced to spend prolonged periods in shelters.
Despite the circumstances, both the embassy and its consular services remain operational, and damage assessments are currently underway.
The Ukrainian State Emergency Service (DSNS) reported that emergency teams have been deployed across several Kyiv districts, with over 450 personnel and 100 units of equipment involved in the clean-up.
In the Solomianskyi district, a five-storey building was partially destroyed, and a fire broke out on the roof of another. Fires were also reported at a warehouse, a petrol station, and a garage cooperative. In the Sviatoshynskyi district, a 14-storey residential block was struck, sparking further fires and damaging several cars. The city’s railway infrastructure was also hit.
In his Friday statement, Sikorski stressed the urgent need for Ukraine to receive additional air defence systems.
The United States confirmed earlier this week that it had paused deliveries of certain munitions to Ukraine’s air defence systems. According to the White House press secretary, the move was taken to prioritise America’s own security needs. The affected munitions reportedly include PAC-3 missiles for the Patriot system, 155mm artillery shells (some of which are guided munitions), GMRLS rockets for the HIMARS system, and AIM-7 missiles used in NASAMS and F-16 fighter jets.
Reacting to the decision, Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the U.S. chargé d’affaires, John Ginkel, expressing appreciation for America’s support to date, but emphasising the critical importance of delivering previously promised military aid.
The ministry warned that delays or hesitation in strengthening Ukraine’s defensive capabilities would only embolden Russia to continue its aggression and terror campaign.
On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the United States is still supplying arms to Ukraine but stressed the need to ensure sufficient domestic stockpiles. Trump was expected to hold a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, following a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin the day before. According to Trump, that call had not yielded any progress toward ending the war in Ukraine.
Source: PAP
Photo: @BelgiumUkraine
Tomasz Modrzejewski
