Ukraine received no early warning from its partners before a Russian ballistic missile attack on Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on October 13, 2026, after five missiles struck civilian infrastructure in the capital overnight.
Overnight attack
The attack ran from the evening of October 12 into October 13. Russia launched more than 100 weapons overall, including drones and loitering munitions, and Ukrainian air defences shot down many but not all of them. Five ballistic missiles hit civilian infrastructure in Kyiv.
“No early warning”
“Unfortunately, we received no early warning from our partners about this strike,” Zelenskyy said. He stressed that early intelligence on ballistic missile launches can save lives, because the missiles’ flight times are very short and people have little time to reach shelter.
Strikes elsewhere
In Kharkiv, a strike destroyed a residential building, killing four people and injuring 41. Separately, a drone hit an educational institution in Rivne, injuring at least 14 people.
Questions over intelligence sharing
The missing warning came amid wider tension with Washington over Ukraine’s strikes on Russian oil refineries and an energy ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump. Ukrainian officials have said early warning of launches depends heavily on allied intelligence, making any interruption a direct risk to civilians.
Sources
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