Zelenskyy Says Ukraine Got No Warning as Russia Launches Fresh Strikes on Power Grid

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has criticised the lack of advance warning from international partners after Russia launched another wave of missile and drone attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leaving more than half a million households without electricity.

The overnight assault on Monday, October 19, involved 16 ballistic missiles targeting Kyiv and its surrounding region, alongside more than 200 drones launched at locations across the country, according to Ukrainian officials cited by Reuters.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine received no early warning before the first ballistic missile attack, despite previously relying on intelligence shared by Western partners to detect incoming Russian strikes. Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said information was received ahead of a subsequent attack, while the circumstances surrounding the initial lack of warning are being investigated.

The strikes damaged more than 10 energy facilities, according to Zelenskyy, disrupting electricity, heating and water supplies. Ukraine’s energy authorities introduced rolling power cuts as repair teams worked to restore services.

At least three people were reported killed, including a 21-year-old woman in Kyiv and two people in the industrial city of Kryvyi Rih. Other civilian infrastructure was also damaged, including a metro station, residential buildings and commercial properties.

The latest attacks have raised further concerns about Ukraine’s air-defence capacity and its access to intelligence from allies. Kyiv has depended heavily on Western intelligence to identify incoming ballistic missiles, while shortages of American-made Patriot air-defence systems have added to concerns over the country’s ability to protect critical infrastructure.

Zelenskyy’s remarks also come amid strained relations between Kyiv and Washington over military assistance and the United States’ approach to Moscow. The Ukrainian president criticised what he described as delays in air-defence missile supplies and relief or delays in sanctions against Russia.

However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he had no information about the latest attack and denied that Washington had suspended intelligence-sharing with Ukraine. President Donald Trump has also said the United States has not stopped providing intelligence to Kyiv.

Russia’s Defence Ministry said its forces had targeted Ukrainian defence-industry facilities, drone and cruise-missile storage sites and other military-related infrastructure. Ukrainian officials, however, reported extensive damage to energy facilities and civilian properties.

The renewed assault comes as diplomatic efforts to end the war remain uncertain and both sides continue conducting long-range attacks. Ukraine has also intensified drone strikes against targets inside Russia, including oil infrastructure.

With repairs underway and power cuts affecting households and businesses, the latest strikes have renewed questions about civilian protection, Ukraine’s air defences and the reliability of intelligence cooperation with its international partners.