A deadly Russian missile strike on Kyiv has raised alarm that the United States has further limited crucial intelligence sharing with Ukraine, leaving civilians without advance warning of incoming attacks.
The Monday morning attack killed a 21-year-old woman and injured eight other people. Locals reported no early warning before the strike, which hit the Chernihivska metro station on Kyiv's left bank.
No Early Warning From Partners
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said: "Another Russian ballistic missile attack came in several waves overnight, and once again, there was no early warning from our partners."
He added that Russia had "launched 16 ballistic missiles in a deliberate attack on Kyiv and the Kyiv region." Reports indicated huge explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital before sirens blared, warning people to rush to shelters.
Deepening Rift With Washington
The attack came just hours after US President Donald Trump claimed Ukraine does not want peace and described the country as a "shambles," branding President Zelensky "foolish." The Russian attacks and Trump's apparent backing of Vladimir Putin are happening as Kyiv braces for a difficult winter.
It is believed Putin's troops are preparing waves of jet-powered drones and ballistic missiles, both increasingly difficult to shoot down, especially given reduced reliability of US intelligence shared with Ukraine.
Starlink Access and Sanctions Concerns
The development follows last week's scandal over Washington apparently restricting Ukraine's access to Elon Musk's Starlink satellite communications, reportedly due to Trump's anger over Zelensky's refusal to halt attacks on Russian energy infrastructure.
Ukraine's deep-strike attacks have shifted the war in its favour, crippling Moscow's ability to fund the war. However, Trump's removal of sanctions against Russia, his deal to buy diesel from Moscow, and increasing blame towards Ukraine for oil price hikes are undermining Kyiv's war effort.
Winter Threats and Intelligence Resumption
Fears are growing that hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians have been left without power as temperatures plummet, with alarm that Putin is stepping up attempts to weaponise the forthcoming -30C temperatures. This deepens suspicions that Trump is strangling Ukraine's ability to defend itself as intelligence sharing is removed or lessened.
The situation comes despite President Zelensky claiming that over the weekend, US intelligence sharing had resumed. The US has previously provided advance warnings of ballistic missile launches, giving civilians crucial minutes to reach shelter and allowing Ukrainian air defenses to prepare for incoming threats.
The Trump administration had previously warned it could halt intelligence sharing and European purchases of American weapons earmarked for Ukraine if Kyiv refused to halt deep strikes on Russian energy infrastructure.
