Ukraine Says It Got No Warning Before Russian Missile Strike on Capital

Lack of Warning Before Missile Strike

Ukraine, located in Eastern Europe, received no prior warning from its Western partners about a Russian ballistic missile attack on its capital, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday, as Kyiv faces intense US pressure to halt attacks on Russian refineries.

Russia struck no Ukrainian energy targets overnight for the first time since President Donald Trump’s surprise Sunday announcement of an “energy ceasefire”, but it hammered transport and logistics with ballistic missiles and drones.

Reuters and other media reported that US officials have threatened to cut off intelligence sharing and weapons sales to Ukraine unless it stops attacking Russian refineries.

Kyiv depends heavily on US intelligence for early warnings of missile strikes, according to experts and officials.

Zelenskiy said Ukraine has not targeted Russian refineries since Trump’s announcement.

However, Kyiv did not receive the usual warning from allies about ballistic missile launches before a “particularly vile” attack on the capital overnight, in which five missiles hit civilian infrastructure.

Air raid alerts sounded in Kyiv.

Zelenskiy posted on X: “Intelligence on Russian ballistic missile launches helps save lives,” and added, “this is one of the most critical issues.”

Air alerts in Kyiv on Monday night came only after several explosions had already ripped through the city.

Zelenskiy stopped short of linking the lack of warning to any US threats.

US Pressure and Diplomatic Responses

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha tried to calm anxiety by saying Ukraine was still receiving US military intelligence.

Speaking at the Warsaw Security Forum, he said the delay had been due to the specifics of the weaponry that Russia had used.

As Ukraine fights a larger, richer and better‑equipped enemy, Kyiv views the strikes on Russian oil refineries as one of its few tools to reduce Moscow’s ability to fight.

Yet Trump has repeatedly blamed Ukrainian attacks — which prompted Moscow to suspend diesel exports — for a sharp rise in US fuel prices this year, a headache for his Republican party ahead of Congressional midterm elections in three weeks.

Most analysts, however, say Trump’s war in Iran has had a far greater impact on the price rise.

Russia struck six Ukrainian energy sites on Monday, but no strikes on energy targets were reported overnight or on Tuesday.

It was unclear whether Russia had deliberately avoided targeting energy infrastructure.

A Kremlin spokesman, asked about the energy ceasefire, said only that contacts were ongoing and declined to provide further details.

Impact on Energy and Casualties

Four people were killed by Russian strikes in Ukraine’s second city, Kharkiv, and dozens were injured across the country, Ukrainian officials said.

The Ukrainian air force said it had not received surveillance warnings before Russia fired ballistic missiles at Kyiv late on Monday and added that it is investigating the matter.

Fabian Hoffmann, missile expert at the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies, said Ukraine’s European allies have “very limited” ability to replace US early‑warning intelligence about Russian missile strikes.

He explained: “Ukraine relies on the so‑called Space‑Based Infrared System which the US deploys – and the US system is really second to none and only the United States can provide that.”

Sybiha said the US request to halt attacks on Russian refineries showed how Ukraine’s position had strengthened, alluding to Trump’s comment to Zelenskiy in a tense Oval Office meeting last year that “you don’t have the cards”.