Russian ballistic missiles hit major Kyiv power plant without warning from allies - Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (photo: Getty Images)
On the evening of October 13, Russia launched a ballistic missile attack on Kyiv, primarily targeting the city's CHP-4 combined heat and power plant. For the second consecutive time, Ukraine received no warning of the launches from its partners, and the missiles were detected only as they approached the city, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian Air Force.
Russia attacked the capital at around 10:40 p.m. The number and types of missiles are still being determined. The main target was CHP-4, one of Kyiv's major energy facilities, which sustained a direct hit.
A residential building was also damaged. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported a strike on a nine-story apartment building in the Desnianskyi district. Emergency crews are working to extinguish the fire.
The Ukrainian Air Force emphasized that the situation was a repeat of the previous day: once again, no information about missile launches from Russian territory was received from Ukraine's partners. The reasons are being investigated, as confirmed by presidential communications adviser Dmytro Lytvyn. According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine's detection system identified the missiles only when they were already approaching the capital.
"And this is absolutely unjust: when they are destroying our energy infrastructure, and Ukraine is not even receiving early warnings about ballistic missile launches. It is important that the world does not stay silent about this. And it is important that the United States really see what is happening and who is responsible for this war continuing," the president said.
Zelenskyy recalled that Ukraine had supported a ceasefire covering energy infrastructure. However, in his view, Russia does not consider it necessary to comply with what the US president had proposed and is once again targeting power plants and people's lives.
According to Ukrainian intelligence, Russia is preparing additional ballistic missile launches. The Air Force has also warned that further attacks are possible and urged people to remain vigilant. Zelenskyy assured that the authorities are working to replenish Ukraine's air defenses with interceptor missiles.
On the evening of October 13, explosions rocked the capital at the same time as the air raid alert was issued. The situation was even worse the previous day: on October 12, at around 10:30 p.m., Russia launched a ballistic missile attack on Kyiv, with explosions occurring before the city's air raid sirens sounded.
Both attacks coincided with reports that the US had allegedly threatened to suspend intelligence sharing with Ukraine over strikes on Russian oil refineries. Warnings about ballistic missile launches are part of this intelligence.
On October 13, US President Donald Trump assured that intelligence sharing with Ukraine had not been suspended.
Meanwhile, media reports emerged that American officials had blamed bad weather for the lack of warning about the previous day's attack.
