Zelensky Says Ukraine Received No Warning From Partners Before Russian Ballistic Missile Strike on Kyiv

October 14 ------ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine received no warning from its international partners before Russia launched five ballistic missiles at civilian infrastructure in Kyiv, calling advance intelligence on such attacks critical to saving lives.

“There was also a particularly cowardly ballistic missile strike on Kyiv – five missiles that hit civilian infrastructure. Unfortunately, there was no warning from our partners regarding this strike,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram on Tuesday, Oct. 13. “Intelligence data on the launch of Russian ballistic missiles helps save lives, and this is one of the most critical issues. Having a warning about ballistic missiles is precisely what helps prevent killings,” he added.

Zelensky did not specify which partners Ukraine expected to provide the warning or explain why the information was not received. Notably, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said at the Warsaw Security Forum that Ukraine continues to receive intelligence from the US. “You are likely asking whether we receive intelligence from the American side. Yes, we are continuing this cooperation,” he said Tuesday.

According to Sybiha, the air raid alert issued late on Monday, Oct. 12, was delayed due to the specific type of weaponry Russia used. However, in his statement, Zelensky referred to a failure to receive a warning about only one attack on Kyiv. Meanwhile, the Financial Times (FT) previously reported, citing sources, that US officials had threatened to halt intelligence sharing with Ukraine if Kyiv continued to strike oil refineries inside Russia.

Russian attacks kill four in Kharkiv

Zelensky said Russian forces had attacked Ukraine with more than 100 weapons since Monday evening, including jet-powered drones, loitering munitions and ballistic missiles. In Kharkiv, a Russian strike destroyed a residential building, killing four people. Rescue workers searched the rubble through much of the night, while 41 people were wounded in the city over the course of the evening, Zelensky said. He added that a significant number of the incoming weapons had been intercepted, but not all.

Source: kyivpost.com