Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine once again received no advance warning from its partners ahead of Russia’s overnight ballistic missile attack, which killed a 21-year-old woman in Kyiv and injured several others.
In a statement on Telegram, Zelensky said Russia launched 16 ballistic missiles at Kyiv and the surrounding region in a targeted attack carried out in several waves.
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“Another Russian ballistic missile attack, coming in several waves overnight – and once again, there was no warning from our partners. Energy facilities and infrastructure were targeted, along with a medical clinic, a school, a metro station, and ordinary residential buildings were damaged,” he wrote.
Russian forces also launched more than 200 drones of various types, including jet-powered Shahed drones, across wide areas of Ukraine, including the regions of Kharkiv, Dnipro, Volyn, Rivne, and Odesa.
“Unfortunately, there are casualties. My condolences go out to their families and loved ones. Those who sustained injuries are receiving medical assistance,” Zelensky said.
He added that Russian forces attacked energy facilities overnight and into Monday morning in the Vinnytsia, Volyn, Kirovohrad, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi, Kharkiv, Ternopil, Odesa, and Rivne regions.
More than 10 energy infrastructure facilities were damaged in a single night, leaving at least 550,000 households without electricity, Zelensky said. Repair crews were working at the affected sites.
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The reported intelligence-sharing restrictions emerged amid tensions between Washington and Kyiv over Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure and efforts to negotiate an energy ceasefire.
The president stressed that Ukraine had consistently supported efforts to end the war and had accepted proposals from its partners for a ceasefire.
“We have responded positively to literally EVERY attempt by our partners to bring this war to a dignified end; we have given a positive response to EVERY proposal for a ceasefire,” he wrote.
“Ballistic missiles, Shahed drones, and killings are Russia’s repeated response. Putin has no desire to end this war – nor even to take any steps toward de-escalation. Each of our partners has experienced this firsthand, having faced refusals from Russia,” Zelensky added.
He called on Ukraine’s partners to recognize Russia’s role as the aggressor and help protect Ukrainian lives.
“When the supply of missiles for Ukraine’s air defense is blocked, while Russia receives a relaxation or deferral of sanctions, this – regrettably – amounts to a denial of reality on the part of our partners,” Zelensky said.
“In reality, the war continues – and it continues solely because of Russian strikes and Russia’s desire to prolong this conflict.”
Russian ballistic missiles struck Kyiv early Monday, Oct. 19, killing a 21-year-old woman and injuring eight others.
Journalist Alex Raufoglu, citing Ukrainian sources, reported that Kyiv had received no advance warning of the attack from its partners. A Kyiv Post correspondent in the Solomianskyi district also reported hearing explosions before the air raid alert sounded, with the warning issued only a couple of minutes later.
The attack damaged the above-ground section of the Chernihivska metro station on Kyiv’s left bank, while falling debris damaged a railway station.
In the Solomianskyi district, missile debris struck the first floor of a 25-story residential building and fell onto a medical facility. Another impact was reported at a non-residential site in the Dniprovskyi district.
Ukrainian telecommunications provider Datagroup said the attack completely destroyed its data center, leaving its equipment and infrastructure beyond repair.
The reports appear to contrast with Zelensky’s earlier statement that the US had resumed sharing military and security intelligence with Ukraine after a suspension lasting “some period of time.”
Speaking to NBC’s Meet the Press on Oct. 18, he said intelligence-sharing channels were working again after a period of friction with Washington. He also said he hoped bilateral talks with US officials could take place within the coming week.
The US has previously provided advance warnings of ballistic missile launches, giving civilians time to seek shelter and Ukrainian air defenses time to prepare.
The dispute over intelligence sharing unfolded amid disagreements between Washington and Kyiv over Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure and proposed ceasefire arrangements.
On Oct. 15, The Washington Post (WP) reported that US intelligence officials had warned Ukraine that Washington would halt intelligence sharing if Ukrainian forces continued long-range strikes on Russian oil refineries and petrochemical facilities.
The warning was conveyed to Ukraine’s embassy in Washington amid disputes over an “energy ceasefire” proposed by US President Donald Trump.
The Trump administration had also warned it could suspend intelligence cooperation and block European purchases of US weapons intended for Ukraine if Kyiv refused to halt deep strikes on Russian energy infrastructure.
Although US sources cited by the WP said intelligence sharing had never been completely halted, they acknowledged that specific data feeds had been restricted.
Before intelligence sharing was restored, Zelensky said Ukraine had received no advance warnings from Western partners of Russian ballistic missile launches toward Kyiv for two consecutive nights. He described Washington’s reported pressure as an “attempt to force Ukraine into capitulation.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, however, denied on Monday that Washington had suspended intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
“There has been no pause,” Rubio told reporters during a visit to Uzbekistan, according to AFP, responding to claims that the US had temporarily stopped providing intelligence used to help Ukraine counter Russian missile attacks.
Zelensky said on Sunday that the suspension had been “deblocked by the American side” after three days.
Rubio said Trump wanted both Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin to focus on ending the war, now in its fifth year.
“What he [Zelensky] should be focused on and what we want to be focused on is bringing an end to this war,” Rubio said.
“That’s what we want everybody to be focused on. That’s what we want the Russians to be focused on,” he added.