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A Russian ballistic missile hit a power plant in Kyiv on Tuesday evening, President Volodymyr Zelensky said, without Ukraine receiving advance warning from its Western allies and despite US President Donald Trump’s claim for an “energy ceasefire” in effect.
Ukraine depends heavily on Western intelligence, especially from the US, to detect incoming Russian attacks and identify its own targets.
Kyiv, home to about three million people, has faced intensifying attacks from Russian drones and missiles, with energy infrastructure a key target.
“A Russian ballistic missile attack on Kyiv. Once again, no early warning from our partners,” Zelensky wrote on Facebook.
“The main target was energy infrastructure, specifically the CHP-4. Unfortunately, it was hit.”
AFP journalists also reported hearing several blasts in the Ukrainian capital.
Zelensky said Ukraine’s systems detected the missiles only as they neared the city.
“This is absolutely unjust: when they are destroying our infrastructure, and Ukraine is not even receiving early warnings about ballistic missile launches,” he added.
At least two people were killed in the same attack, which also struck a residential building in the Desnianskyi district, said Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko. Around 20 others were wounded, he said.
Overnight from Monday into Tuesday, Kyiv residents heard explosions from Russian strikes before the air raid sirens sounded, something that has happened only rarely in the past.
On Tuesday, Ukrainian officials said the situation was due to the Russian military’s use of hard-to-detect missiles or possible technical issues.
US President Trump caused confusion on Sunday with a surprise “energy ceasefire” announcement on his Truth Social network, saying Russia and Ukraine had agreed to stop their punishing long-range strikes on power plants and oil refineries.
Trump has repeatedly lashed out at Zelensky over strikes on Russian oil refineries and on Saturday suggested it was “time for Ukraine to get a new president”.