The incident at the Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid involved a staff member who sustained minor injuries after a letter containing a small homemade explosive detonated upon opening. According to police sources, the employee was taken to Nuestra Señora de América hospital in Madrid and later discharged after treatment on site. The envelope was addressed to the ambassador, and an embassy administrator opened it, resulting in minor injuries. Diplomatic officials told reporters that everyone involved was reported to be stable, though details about how the device bypassed initial security checks were not disclosed.
The National Court began its formal assessment of the case through the Investigation Court’s Ward 4, with a decision pending on whether to initiate a preliminary investigation. The designated judge for overseeing the investigation is José Luis Calama. In parallel, interior ministry resources reported that police received a tip shortly after 1:00 p.m. regarding the envelope incident at the embassy.
Upon notification, police activated anti-terrorism protocols and cordoned off the embassy area at 52 Ronda de Atocha. Specialized bomb-disposal units and other police personnel arrived to secure the scene and conduct a coordinated response. The National Police are leading the inquiry with the collaboration of the scientific police and the Provincial Information Brigade.
Requests for comments from the embassy were not answered at the time. The office declined to confirm or elaborate on the event publicly.
By regular mail and without passing the browser
The letter originated from ordinary postal service and did not pass through scanning procedures before being opened by a security operator. Mercedes González, the government delegate in Madrid, was briefed on the incident and provided details about the envelope’s delivery.
In a televised interview on Telemadrid, cited by Europa Press, González described how the envelope was opened in the embassy garden, and the explosive substance caused small injuries to a worker who was handling the package.
The central government representative in Madrid urged calm and patience as police work to determine the source of the letter. He also noted that Spain remains on a high anti-terror alert level and emphasized the importance of a careful, methodical investigation.
Ukraine strengthens embassy security
In response to the Madrid incident, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba ordered heightened security for all Ukrainian diplomatic missions abroad. The ministry’s spokesman, Oleg Nikolenko, confirmed that the attack prompted immediate security measures. Kuleba urged Spain’s foreign minister to take urgent steps to clarify the circumstances while affirming that security forces had already been deployed in the area.
The Ukrainian minister stressed that such threats or attacks would not deter diplomatic staff or slow efforts to support Ukraine, particularly amid ongoing activities related to countering aggression and maintaining international solidarity. The situation prompted ongoing coordination between Kyiv and Madrid to ensure the safety of staff and premises while continuing essential diplomatic work.