Ukrainian officials claim that Washington is withholding critical intelligence on incoming Russian ballistic missile strikes, with a new investigation revealing that at least six civilians were killed in strikes that reportedly occurred without the normal warnings that Kyiv receives from American satellite systems.
The allegations come as the relationship between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy continues to deteriorate and Washington prepares more potential financial incentives for Moscow to end the war.
Tu-22M3 Bomber from Russia. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Russia Tu-22M Bomber. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
The White House, however, insists that it is not deliberately withholding any intelligence.
An October 20 Kyiv Post investigation notes how at least six Ukrainian civilians were killed and 21 injured in ballistic missile attacks between October 12 and 19 – a period in which Ukrainian defense authorities say they stopped receiving timely warnings of incoming Russian strikes.
But Secretary of State Marco Rubio pushed back the same day, confirming on Tuesday that he spoke with the Ukrainian president for 45 minutes and assured him that American intelligence sharing and military assistance remain unchanged.
Six Killed Following Intelligence Anomaly
The Kyiv Post investigation, published on Tuesday, examined Russian missile strikes over the previous week and noted that several attacks occurred before Ukraine’s civilian warning networks were able to identify the incoming missiles.
The investigation suggests that there was an anomaly in intelligence sharing that began around October 12, with Russian forces subsequently launching several large ballistic missile attacks against Ukrainian cities.
One of the deadliest attacks occurred on October 13, when a Russian missile struck a nine-story apartment building in Kyiv’s Desnianskyi district.
Three women, aged 35, 58, and 84, were killed in the attack, and dozens of others were injured.
Witnesses also said that they received no air raid warning before the missile struck.
Another Russian missile hit the Holosiivskyi district in Kyiv during the early hours of October 14, killing two civilians.
The investigation also found that warnings were sometimes issued only after people could already hear explosions.
Zelenskyy Claims Ukraine Left Without Warning
President Zelenskyy has repeatedly complained that Ukraine is no longer receiving consistent American intelligence ahead of Russian ballistic missile strikes.
On October 18, the Ukrainian president told NBC’s Meet the Press that an interruption in intelligence sharing had been reversed. According to Reuters, Zelenskyy said he was “very thankful” it had been restored, and that “now it works.”
The following day, however, Zelenskyy again raised concerns and told American legislators that Washington still had not adequately explained why it had not provided the warnings. the warnings
On October 14, the Washington Post described how Ukrainian officials were growing increasingly concerned about alleged restrictions on American intelligence and satellite services after Russian missile attacks occurred without warning.
This issue is particularly important for Ukraine not just because its forces already had a short supply of interceptors, with some reports indicating that Ukraine’s stockpile of Patriot interceptors is now effectively exhausted, but also because Russia is stepping up its attacks against Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure ahead of the winter.
Rubio Confirms Call With Zelenskyy
On Tuesday, October 20, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed he spoke directly with President Zelenskyy for 45 minutes.
He said the conversation addressed concerns about intelligence sharing and missile deliveries, and that Ukraine has been assured the U.S. position is unchanged and that Washington will continue to provide intelligence under existing intelligence-sharing arrangements.
Rubio said that the Pentagon’s approach to assisting Ukraine is unchanged, and he rejected claims that President Trump had ordered restrictions designed to encourage Kyiv to wind down its defenses or concede to Moscow.
Writing on X, Zelenskyy confirmed the call and described it as a substantive discussion.
“I spoke with Marco Rubio @SecRubio, and it was a substantive conversation – focused on the issues that matter. I am grateful for his readiness to help and his clear position. First, ballistic missile interceptors, which are needed to protect lives. Second, early warning of Russian ballistic missile attacks, which is vital. Third, the situation with Starlink/Starshield, which needs to be restored,” Zelenskyy wrote on X.
“Of course, all of this comes against the backdrop of our diplomatic efforts to end this horrific war and the constant killing of people. We agreed to get in touch again soon for an update. Thank you, Marco, for the constructive discussion! Thank you to everyone in America who supports fair approaches!” he continued.
Rubio also confirmed the call in comments to Fox News on Tuesday afternoon. He told the outlet that rumors of policy shifts regarding Ukraine are untrue.
“Look, I’m seeing a lot of things in the media that are not accurate,” he said.
“And as I did in my conversation with him, number one is the Department of War; everything they’ve been doing with Ukraine remains the same. That has not changed,” he continued.
About the Author: Jack Buckby
Jack Buckby is a British researcher and analyst specializing in defense and national security, based in New York. His work focuses on military capability, procurement, and strategic competition, and he produces and edits analysis for policy and defense audiences. He brings extensive editorial experience, with a career output spanning over 1,000 articles at National Security Journal, and has previously authored books and papers on extremism and deradicalization.
