Ukraine said it did not receive a warning from the United States before a Russian missile attack targeted power plants in Kyiv late Sunday evening, raising concerns about a breakdown in intelligence sharing amid ongoing tensions between Kyiv and Washington. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the lack of advance notice, suggesting it reflected a broader reluctance by international partners to fully support Ukraine’s air defense needs.
According to Yurii Ihnat, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force, there was no warning before the initial missile barrage struck the capital’s power infrastructure at around 11 p.m. local time. However, Ihnat noted that a warning was received prior to a subsequent strike around 3 a.m. Monday. A Ukrainian government official similarly confirmed that no alert was provided before the first wave of attacks.
In a social media statement early Monday, Zelenskyy condemned what he described as repeated failures by allies to provide timely notifications of Russian missile launches. He linked the issue to broader challenges in the delivery of air defense missiles, accusing partners of denying reality when they delay shipments or lift sanctions on Russia. “When the supply of missiles for Ukrainian air defence is blocked, and Russia receives sanctions relief or delays, it is, unfortunately, a denial of reality on the part of our partners,” Zelenskyy wrote.
The controversy comes as the United States, under President Donald Trump, recently waived certain sanctions on Russia, citing national interest, a move that critics say may undermine pressure on Moscow. Trump also accused Zelenskyy of lacking interest in ending the conflict, asserting that Ukraine was reluctant to pursue peace despite substantial financial support from Europe. These comments appeared on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Sunday.
Historically, Ukraine has received advance warnings from the U.S. before Russian ballistic missile strikes, allowing authorities to alert civilians and activate defensive measures. However, Ukrainian officials report that missile warnings were absent on multiple occasions over the past week, intensifying public disputes between Kyiv and Washington.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking Monday from Samarkand, Uzbekistan, said he was uncertain whether the lack of warning on Sunday had occurred but acknowledged a recent software problem affecting Ukraine’s early warning system. This represents the first public mention by U.S. officials of technical issues; previous explanations for missed alerts included poor weather over southern Russia obscuring missile launch preparations.
U.S. military officials are reportedly investigating recent missile attacks. Meanwhile, Ukraine has raised concerns about the disruption of vital military assistance, including delays in PAC-3 missile deliveries. Weapons supplied via the PURL program—under which Europe procures U.S. arms for Ukraine—have also experienced setbacks. Ukrainian sources contend that Washington threatened to slow weapon deliveries unless Kyiv curtailed strikes on Russian oil refineries.
The Trump administration has denied accusations of deliberately throttling services in Ukraine, including the Starlink satellite internet system provided by Elon Musk, which supports both drone operations and air defense systems. The current impasse underscores growing strains in U.S.-Ukraine relations amid a prolonged and complex conflict with Russia.