Russian invasion

Negotiations
Trump confirms envoy's trip: "Bringing proposals"

Donald Trump confirms that envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff will visit Moscow and Kyiv this weekend, writes AFP.

- They will bring a proposal to end the war. We will send them over to see if we can get something done, and there is a good chance that it will work, he says.

This will be the first time Kushner and Witkoff have visited Kyiv. Zelenskyj says that Ukraine intends to pause airstrikes against Russia when they visit Moscow on Saturday, and urges the Russians to do the same the next day when they go on to Kyiv.

According to sources to the Kyiv Independent, the trip has been planned and canceled several times because Witkoff is worried about going to Ukraine.

- The Russians do not want them to go to Kyiv, and Witkoff is always sensitive to Russian messages. They are told that it is dangerous here, says one of the sources. 

Russian reactions
Sources: Russian major bank prepares for mobilization

Russia's largest bank, state-owned Sberbank, has held an internal meeting on which employees should be exempted from mobilization. This is reported by sources for the Telegram channel Mozhem Obshchim, writes the independent Moscow Times.

According to the sources, permanent employees will be exempted from mobilization, but not interns, part-time employees or remote workers. An exemption also requires that the information in the population register is up-to-date and correct.

When participants in the meeting asked if there will be a mobilization, the bank replied that "Putin has said there will be none". However, a source who participated felt that there was "definitely" a concern.

A week ago, information came out that steel giant Evraz and other large companies had begun to produce similar lists. The Kremlin denies that a mobilization is underway, while Ukraine, Kremlin sources and Western intelligence sources state that it will take place after the "elections" to the State Duma in two weeks. 

The fighting
Russian drone hits Ukraine's intelligence chief

A Russian drone has hit the headquarters of the Ukrainian intelligence service SBU in Kyiv, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Telegram.

- I have spoken with SBU chief Oleksandr Poklad. Unfortunately, a Russian drone has hit the SBU building on Volodymyrska Street in Kyiv, opposite St. Sophia Cathedral, he said.

The drone was aimed directly at Poklad's office, he added. There are no reports of injuries in the attack, but an AFP reporter on the scene saw ambulances outside the SBU headquarters.

The attack also damaged several nearby buildings, including the popular Zavertailo cafe.

Ukraine: Major escalation – revenge is being prepared

The Russian drone attack on the headquarters of Ukraine's SBU intelligence service is a "major escalation", Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said, according to AFP.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that an "appropriate and noticeable" revenge is being prepared.

- The targets have already been selected. The timing must be chosen to ensure a successful outcome, he said.

The attack was aimed directly at the office of SBU chief Oleksandr Poklad. He was not there and was not injured. Twelve other people and several buildings were damaged in the attack, however.

Never before during the war has Russia targeted the headquarters of the SBU. It comes ahead of the visit of US negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff on Sunday, which is preceded by a visit to Moscow.