The United States may have withheld early warnings about Russian missile strikes on Ukraine. Multiple sources shared this information with CBS News.
Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said there was no advance notice when Russia launched a ballistic missile attack on Kyiv this week. According to sources, U.S. officials claimed bad weather caused a failure in the detection system. However, Ukrainian officials doubted this explanation and accused the U.S. of manipulating the system.
When another missile wave hit around 3 a.m. local time on Wednesday, the U.S. warning system seemed operational again. The U.S. had previously failed to provide intelligence on missile launches due to resource focus on the Middle East.
Ukrainian rescuers and paramedics carry a wounded resident at the site of a Russian missile strike on an apartment building in Kyiv.
Zelenskyy detailed that Russia launched over 39 ballistic missiles and 120 drones targeting energy infrastructure in Kyiv and Kharkiv, resulting in six deaths and power loss to 600,000 people.
President Trump, when asked if the U.S. had stopped sharing intelligence, denied it. He emphasized the desire to help Ukraine and end the war.
“We are helping them, and we are sharing intel. We want the war to end,” Trump confirmed.
Following Trump’s announcement of an “energy ceasefire” between Russia and Ukraine, Russia began more strikes.
This week, the Trump administration warned it might stop intelligence sharing and weapon supply if Ukraine continued strikes on Russian energy targets.
Ukraine relies on U.S. intel for military capabilities, using satellite and sensor data to track Russian movements. Sources confirmed that no overall cessation in intelligence sharing had occurred, but this specific warning delay was notable.
Ukraine’s military also experienced issues with SpaceX’s Starlink satellite system. The system, vital for communication and drone missions, faced restrictions without notice, impacting operations. The Ministry of Defense contacted the U.S., SpaceX, and NATO to restore communication channels.
The Starlink issue was initially reported by the Kyiv Independent and Financial Times. CBS News sought comments from SpaceX, the White House, and the Pentagon.
Ukrainian firefighters extinguish a blaze at the site of a Russian missile strike on an apartment building in Kyiv.
President Zelenskyy urged the U.S. to respond strongly to Russia’s attacks. He expressed Ukraine’s need for support from America and the international community in addressing Russia’s actions.
This article was originally published by CBS News.