Zelenskyy Says Ukraine Received No Warning Before Russian Ballistic Missile Strike on Kyiv

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday that Ukraine received no early warning from partners before a Russian ballistic missile strike on Kyiv. Five missiles hit civilian infrastructure overnight Monday. Air raid alerts sounded only after explosions had already occurred.

Zelenskyy wrote that intelligence on Russian ballistic missile launches helps save lives and is one of the most critical issues. He called the strike particularly vile. He did not name which partners failed to provide the warning. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said at the Warsaw Security Forum that the United States continues to share intelligence. He attributed the delay to the type of weapon used.

Russia launched five ballistic missiles from the Bryansk region and more than 100 drones. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted or suppressed many of the drones. The missiles reached Kyiv. Separate strikes hit a residential building in Kharkiv, killing four people and wounding dozens more. Zelenskyy said Ukraine has not attacked Russian energy sites since U.S. President Donald Trump announced an energy ceasefire on Sunday. Trump has pressed both sides to stop targeting power infrastructure.

The usual warning system relies on U.S. and NATO detection of launches. Previous attacks often gave Ukrainian authorities minutes of notice to activate air defenses and issue public alerts. The absence of that notice Monday night left residents with the sound of the explosions as their first indication. Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ignat said such gaps have occurred before and that specialists will work with partners to resolve technical issues.

Trump told reporters that the United States has not stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine. He said Washington continues to provide it in hopes of ending the war. Reports over the weekend had indicated U.S. officials threatened to halt intelligence sharing if Ukraine continued deep strikes on Russian refineries. Zelenskyy said Ukraine halted those strikes after Trump's announcement. The Kremlin has not confirmed any energy ceasefire agreement.

The timing adds pressure to the relationship between Kyiv and Washington. Ukraine relies on U.S.-made Patriot systems and real-time launch data to counter ballistic missiles. Ballistic missiles travel faster and on steeper trajectories than cruise missiles, reducing reaction time even with advance notice. Without the notice, the window shrinks further. Civilian infrastructure in Kyiv includes power and heating systems that are already under strain heading into winter.

European officials have continued to express support for Ukraine while watching the U.S. approach. Zelenskyy has said he is ready to honor an energy ceasefire as a first step. Russian forces continued drone and missile attacks on other targets. The Ukrainian Air Force reported the full overnight assault included jet-powered drones and decoys launched from multiple directions, including occupied territory.

Investigators in Kyiv are examining the sites hit by the five missiles. Damage assessments and casualty figures for the capital were still being compiled Tuesday. The broader pattern shows Russia maintaining pressure on Ukrainian cities even as diplomatic talk of ceasefires circulates. The specific gap in warning for this strike has drawn the most immediate attention because of its direct effect on civilian warning times.

Ukrainian officials have not said whether they received an official explanation beyond the weather or weapon-type references. One senior official described it as a failure in the early-warning system. The incident leaves open the practical question of how reliably the existing detection and sharing arrangement will function in the coming weeks as both sides continue operations.