Zelenskyy says Ukraine did not receive early warning ahead of Russian energy attack
by Vaughn Cockayne · The Washington TimesUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday that Ukraine once again did not receive an early warning before Russian ballistic missiles crashed into the energy infrastructure, as Moscow works to weaken Kyiv’s electrical grid ahead of another harsh winter.
Mr. Zelenskyy said on social media that 16 Russian ballistic missiles struck Kyiv and the surrounding region, hitting 28 substations and other critical energy facilities. He added that restoration work is in progress and that power is slowly being restored to affected Ukrainians.
The Russians also launched “more than 200” Shahed-style drones during the attack.
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The attacks also damaged a school, medical clinic, a metro station and “ordinary residential buildings” in Kyiv, Mr. Zelenskyy said.
Mr. Zelenskyy first said last week that Ukraine had received no warning from allies or the U.S. ahead of a Russian missile strike on Kyiv, leading to intense speculation that Washington had halted intelligence sharing with the country.
President Trump has rejected accusations that he authorized a halt in intelligence sharing with Kyiv and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday that Ukraine had experienced a software issue with its early warning system.
Last week, Mr. Zelenskyy said that severe limits on his military’s use of the U.S. company SpaceX’s satellite internet service had hurt his country’s drone operational capacity. Ukrainian defense officials have said that speeds are returning to normal but remain below what is necessary for operations.
Ukraine and Washington are currently at odds over several diplomatic moves by the Trump administration seen by many as deferential to Moscow, including signing a deal to import Russian diesel and waiving sanctions on Russian oil.
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Ukraine is also experiencing a critical shortage of American-made Patriot air defense systems, which have been essential in intercepting Russian missile and drone barrages.
Mr. Zelenskyy said on social media that sanctions relief, along with delayed delivery of critical munitions, puts Ukraine in a dangerous position.
“When deliveries of missiles for Ukraine’s air defense are blocked while Russia is granted relief or delays in sanctions, this is, unfortunately, a denial of reality on the part of our partners. The reality is that the war continues, and it continues solely because of Russian strikes and Russia’s desire to drag this war out,” he said.
Sens. Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut Democrat, and Thom Tillis, North Carolina Republican, held a video conference with Mr. Zelenskyy on Monday to learn “about what his military is currently facing on the battlefield.”
The senators wrote in a statement that they told Mr. Zelenskyy that Democrats and Republicans in Congress remain “committed to Ukraine” and its efforts to defeat Russia.
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They added that Mr. Zelenskyy confirmed a severe degradation in Starlink services and U.S. intelligence sharing “concerning early warning of Russian ballistic missile launches.”
“As a result of these disruptions, civilians — children — are dying. He also raised serious concerns about delays in critical air defense interceptors and the Administration’s decision to waive powerful sanctions against Russia,” the statement reads.
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Vaughn Cockayne
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