Allies did not warn Kyiv of Russian ballistic missile strikes, says Zelenskyy

Ukrainian rescuers work at the site of a Russian drone strike on a residential area in Kyiv. Photograph: Sergey Dolzhenko/EPAView image in fullscreenUkrainian rescuers work at the site of a Russian drone strike on a residential area in Kyiv. Photograph: Sergey Dolzhenko/EPAAllies did not warn Kyiv of Russian ballistic missile strikes, says ZelenskyyUkrainian president’s comments on ‘particularly vile’ strikes come after US threatened to halt intelligence sharing

Ukraine received no early warning from its partners about a Russian ballistic missile strike on Kyiv in which five missiles hit civilian infrastructure, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday.

The Ukrainian president described the attack on Monday as “particularly vile”. He emphasised that receiving intelligence from Ukraine’s western allies “helps saves lives, and this is one of the most critical issues”.

“This is precisely what helps prevent people from being killed – when there is an early warning about ballistic missiles,” he wrote on social media. He did not apportion blame for the lack of warning, calling it unfortunate.

US officials made explicit threats over the weekend to their Ukrainian counterparts that the Trump administration was on the brink of halting intelligence sharing with Kyiv. However, speaking in Warsaw, Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, indicated that cooperation was continuing and said the lack of warning over the Kyiv attack was due to a “special type” of Russian weaponry.

Donald Trump has demanded that Ukraine stop attacking Russian oil refineries and has blamed Zelenskyy for the rise in fuel prices in the US. On Friday the US president announced a deal with Vladimir Putin to import diesel from Russia, dropping previous US sanctions.

He also claimed Moscow and Kyiv had agreed an “energy ceasefire”, something Zelenskyy described as “news to me”. On Tuesday Ukraine’s leader said his military had not struck Russian oil refineries or energy facilities in the two days following Trump’s Sunday announcement.

The Kremlin, however, had ignored the “ceasefire” and continued to bomb Ukraine’s energy infrastructure as before, with multiple attacks, he said. “Russia did not heed the president … The Russians sent absolutely clear signals that they have no intention of refraining from strikes,” he noted.

Ukrainian commanders say American intelligence is not needed to identify targets for deep strikes on Russia, with oil refineries marked on Google Maps. But they say it plays a crucial role in warning of Russian ballistic missile launches, and the takeoff of long-range bomber aircraft.

In recent months Russia has dramatically stepped up its bombardment of Ukrainian towns and cities. Ukraine has struggled to shoot down incoming missiles and jet-powered drones and has appealed to partners to boost its dwindling supplies of US-made Patriot missiles.

According to the Financial Times, the Trump administration has also threatened to suspend the procurement scheme under which Ukraine’s European allies buy advanced US systems, which are then sent to Kyiv, including badly needed Patriots.

The Kremlin’s systematic campaign against Ukraine’s power grid has led to widespread blackouts in Kyiv and other cities. Putin’s apparent goal is to shut off heating and electricity for millions of civilians this winter, and to trigger a new wave of refugees into neighbouring EU states.

On Monday Russia bombarded the city of Kharkiv, destroying a residential building. Sharing footage from the scene, Zelenskyy said four people had been killed and 41 injured. Rescuers spent the entire night searching for people trapped under the rubble, he added.

The row between Washington and Kyiv is the most serious since last year, when Trump threw Zelenskyy out of the White House. Ukraine’s president has said he is willing to stop hitting Russian oil refineries – but only on a reciprocal basis and with “real guarantees” that Moscow will cease its attacks on Ukraine’s own energy sites.

“Direct or indirect support for Russia, delaying aid to Ukraine, and complicating protection of lives from ballistics – this is what will definitely not work for peace. A strong America, a strong Europe, strong partners are needed,” he said on Tuesday.