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Zelenskyy Blasts Lack of Early Warning on Russian Strikes
· Confirmed
In Short: Zelenskyy also pointed out that the U.S. may have intentionally withheld early warnings of Russian strikes, multiple sources familiar with the matter told CBS News.
Russian forces launched a barrage of ballistic missiles and drones on Monday, targeting Kyiv and surrounding regions, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The attacks left at least one person dead and over half a million homes without power, heat, and running water.
Zelenskyy reported that Russia fired 16 ballistic missiles, with 10 hitting their targets, primarily energy facilities. The strikes damaged more than 10 energy infrastructure sites across Ukraine, impacting over 550,000 households, according to Zelenskyy's Telegram statement.
The attacks also included more than 200 drones of various types, including jet-powered Shaheds, as reported by RBC-Ukraine. Zelenskyy noted that Russia had launched more than 100 weapons since Monday evening, targeting energy and critical infrastructure in Kyiv and Kharkiv, resulting in six deaths and leaving some 600,000 without power, as per CBS News.
Zelenskyy emphasized that Kyiv received no early warning from partner countries before the attacks, highlighting the critical importance of advance intelligence in saving civilian lives given the extremely short flight time of ballistic missiles. He stated that the lack of warning was a 'failure' due to circumstances such as weather conditions, but did not rule out a deliberate decision by partners to withhold information.
The Ukrainian president accused Washington of 'denial of reality' in its ongoing row with Trump over apparent support for Moscow. Zelenskyy noted that when the supply of missiles for Ukrainian air defense is blocked and Russia receives sanctions relief or delays, it is a 'denial of reality' on the part of their partners, according to The Guardian.
Zelenskyy also pointed out that the U.S. may have intentionally withheld early warnings of Russian strikes, multiple sources familiar with the matter told CBS News. He urged the U.S. to invoke legislation associated with Lindsey Graham and to refrain from lifting sanctions against Russia until the killing of Ukrainians comes to an end.
In parallel, limits on Ukraine's use of the military-grade version of SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service have choked Ukrainian drone operations, according to Zelenskyy. Full service was being restored at the end of last week, but Zelenskyy said Monday that the restrictions are still slowing Ukraine’s drones along the front.
Zelenskyy said Wednesday that Russia launched more than 39 ballistic missiles and more than 120 attack drones and loitering munitions during the overnight attack, primarily targeting energy and critical infrastructure in Kyiv and Kharkiv, killing six people and leaving some 600,000 without power, as per CBS News.
What this adds
Zelenskyy's criticism of the lack of early warning on Russian strikes is consistent with previous reports, but adds new details about the extent of the attacks and the potential intentional withholding of intelligence by the U.S.
Background
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv received no early warning from partner countries before Russian missile attacks.
What's confirmed
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Telegram that Russia had launched 16 ballistic missiles, targeting Ukraine's energy facilities, 10 of which were hit, cutting power to some 550,000 households.
- Zelenskyy is grappling with recent Washington moves benefiting Russian President Vladimir Putin, including waiving U.S. sanctions on Moscow and signing a deal to import diesel from Moscow.
- He noted Monday that Kyiv received no early warning from partner countries.
- The attacks damaged over 10 energy facilities, leaving more than half a million people without power, heat and running water.
- READ MORE: Zelenskyy urges support for new U.S. sanctions on Russia put on hold by Trump In parallel, limits on Ukraine's use of the military-grade version of U.S. company SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service have choked Ukrainian drone operations, according to Zelenskyy.
- U kraine again received no early warning from its partners before an overnight Russian ballistic missile barrage on Kyiv that targeted energy facilities and left at least 550,000 families without power, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday.
- Hanna Arhirova, Associated Press Hanna Arhirova, Associated Press Justin Spike, Associated Press Justin Spike, Associated Press KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine received no early warning from its partners about five Russian ballistic missiles that hit civilian infrastructure in the capital of Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday, as tensions rise between the Ukrainian leader and U.S. President Donald Trump.
- In addition to the four deaths in the apartment building in Kharkiv, 41 people were wounded in the city in one evening alone, Zelenskyy said.
- "This is precisely what helps prevent people from being killed — when there is an early warning about ballistic missiles,” he wrote.
- Zelenskyy said Russia had attacked Ukraine with more than 100 weapons since Monday evening.
- Russia's war in Ukraine has not seen major shifts on the ground since last year, but Ukraine is struggling to fend off Moscow's intensified aerial attacks that include speedy ballistic missiles and high-flying jet-powered drones.
- Zelenskyy did not specify which partners he was talking about.
What's still developing
- Canada is providing approximately C$350 million for air defense interceptors for Ukraine as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Mark Carney met in Calgary on September 10, with Kyiv preparing for another winter of Russian missile and drone attacks.
- Ukraine said in early September that it was accelerating development of high-speed interceptors designed specifically to counter jet-powered Shahed-type attack drones.
- The leaders signed an agreement to work toward a “hundred-year partnership”.
- “The facts show that the Russians do not consider themselves bound by what the President of the United States said,” Zelenskyy said following the attack late Tuesday.
- Trump again excoriated the embattled Ukrainian leader, putting more pressure on Zelenskyy than on the man in Moscow who started this war, Vladimir Putin.
- Published - October 19, 2026 07:52 pm IST - Kyiv Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends a press conference.